2-paragraph reflection on importance of book in terms of learning and society application.
Consider the following questions:

• What are the positive lessons of the Holocaust that Wiesel hints at in the story? 
• Is there purpose of having faith even without the existence or justice of God? (Jewish people believed in their faith even during all of the horrid events) 
• Is redemption possible for man possible, after committing actions like or similar to the Holocaust?

    In society, the Holocaust was deemed as (specifically the Auschwitz camp) literally the single largest murder spree in recorded history. Torture through lack of food, the cremation of children; the fact alone that civilian deaths vastly outnumbered military deaths around 3:2. There was massive torture and abuse; things in which, in inevitable defeat, Nazi Germany had attempted to cover up. Night by Elie Wiesel was a first-person, legitimate account of what happened. Because of all of this, it is mainly presumed that no negative lessons can be learned from the story, however, that’s incorrect.

    Remember; there were individuals who were smart enough or close to higher powers to try and cover up their horrible war crimes before impending defeat, as told near the end of the story in Night. This very action hints at the lesson of remembrance and education. There’s a saying that goes something like “history will repeat itself”. One of the most important things about this saying is that it’s been proven to be true again and again. The one that changes however, is what exactly is repeated. At times it might be the tendency for war, like the countless conflicts that have happened over recorded history. At times it might be the tendency for humans to lean toward democracy; something more common in modern days, sparked by things like the American Revolution.

    This repeating of these various events though, is entirely dependent on how generations educate the next. Darkness and cruelty in humans are poisons in humans; poisons whose antidotes remain nonexistent. As such, we as a society must educate future generations about what humans are capable of at both ends of the spectrum, so as to lean them toward the lighter, more positive end of it. We cannot forget events like 9/11, Pearl Harbor, the Holocaust, and countless other horrible events because without them, societies around the world will fall once again to the same mistakes we made before, once those events are forgotten, along with the lessons they taught us.

    In addition, the book brings up questions of faith, religion, and it’s purpose in face of events like the Holocaust. As explained by Wiesel, his faith was still there, though, he questioned his deity's actions. As such, his view began to change throughout the book as conditions grew harsher. As an individual who does not share the same faith most do in a religion (not exactly atheist but moreso agnostic), I cannot tell where I would place my own beliefs as I have not experienced such events. However, based on the book, religion, faith, and it’s purpose in events like the Holocaust clearly have significance. Hell; religion was one of the reasons why all Jews were persecuted and judged so harshly by Germans. One may question if it’s necessary. In my opinion, it depends. In the book, Wiesel didn’t give up his faith, but rather had immense doubt in his God. Others in the story held onto their faith, as it kept them alive. Others abandoned it. Although vagueness is often a disliked attribute, I believe that religion’s purpose is entirely a subjective matter, and is not confined to an absolute “yes, it matters” or “no, it doesn’t”.

    Finally, as stated before, the Holocaust (Auschwitz specifically) was the single largest murder in history. Today, after decades of separation and change, Germany has become a much reformed country, different from it’s days of olde. People today don’t oppress them because of their actions. Nor does Americans do to Japanese-Americans. Around the world, we’ve seen massive change. There’s not been a massive conflict since World War II (we passed the Cold War without any nuclear war, after all). In comparison to previous conflicts, (not attempting to downplay them at all, just comparing the numbers) World War II far outweighs the amount of cruelty and horrible actions that radicals, terrorists, etc. of today commit.

    The fact that humanity can go from something as terrible as the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, The Cold War, the Vietnam War, etc. to today with countless democracies around the world, peace, and development absolutely proves that redemption for man is possible. Short-term, it’s obviously not as tensions would still be high, with any event in history. But time heals all wounds. It’s not necessarily because humans forget about these events, but rather that we forgive each other through actions.