Journal 13 : October 1944

If I was God, I would spit at Kuhn’s prayer.
Chapter 13 elucidates the trauma and the suspense of the Selekcja, the selection for those who would be put to death in the Concentration Camp. Levi, through fantastic use of words and expression elevates the intensity of this situation. He starts with the coming of a painful winter, and the arrival of “hunger, fear, pain, and tiredness.” This soon escalates into the Selekja. To further intensify the situation, Levi approaches the topic in a slow manner, which adds an element of suspense. He progresses with “brisk elastic” steps, trying to “hold his head high.” It is impossible to even think about his mental ordeal. Under the protection of our parents, friend and teachers, we often never have to face the harsh realities of life. For Levi, he had to face a reality that would decide the direction of his life. This reality was Death, itself. Even the thought of Death petrifies each one of us and in the book, millions of Jews had to undergo this suffering and agony, unaware of what the future and destiny had in store for them. Yet, as Levi himself says, he “lived through the great selection of October 1944 with inconceivable tranquility.” This evoked a feeling of respect and awe in my mind. To retain one’s composure when one’s life is at stake is definitely a trait few would possess. In many aspects, as states, the detainees at Auschwitz were below standards of humanity. Yet this not only excluded them from being ordinary humans, but placed them way above each one of us. Despite this, people like Kuhn also formed part of Auschwitz. Kuhn’s prayer that was completely senseless and repugnant showed how man only bothered about his selfish motives at Auschwitz. Levi’s remark about Kuhn’s prayer is true to a very large extent, since God listens to prayers that are sincere, selfless and devoted, and none of these three were present in Kuhn’s prayer.