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The Trial of God:

elie wiesel robert mcafee brown matthew fox

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Where is God when innocent human beings suffer? This drama lays bare the most vexing questions confronting the moral imagination.

Set in a Ukranian village in the year 1649, this haunting play takes place in the aftermath of a pogrom. Only two Jews, Berish the innkeeper and his daughter Hannah, have survived the brutal Cossack raids. When three itinerant actors arrive in town to perform a Purim play, Berish demands that they stage a mock trial of God instead, indicting Him for His silence in the face of evil. Berish, a latter-day Job, is ready to take on the role of prosecutor. But who will defend God? A mysterious stranger named Sam, who seems oddly familiar to everyone present, shows up just in time to volunteer.

The idea for this play came from an event that Elie Wiesel witnessed as a boy in Auschwitz: "Three rabbis--all erudite and pious men--decided one evening to indict God for allowing His children to be massacred. I remember: I was there, and I felt like crying. But there nobody cried."

Inspired and challenged by this play, Christian theologians Robert McAfee Brown and Matthew Fox, in a new Introduction and Afterword, join Elie Wiesel in the search for faith in a world where God is silent.

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1979

This edition

Format
177 pages, Paperback
Published
November 14, 1995 by Schocken
ISBN
9780805210538
ASIN
0805210539
Language
English

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About the author

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elie wiesel

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Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
In his political activities Wiesel became a regular speaker on the subject of the Holocaust and remained a strong defender of human rights during his lifetime. He also advocated for many other causes like the state of Israel and against Hamas and victims of oppression including Soviet and Ethiopian Jews, the apartheid in South Africa, the Bosnian genocide, Sudan, the Kurds and the Armenian genocide, Argentina's Desaparecidos or Nicaragua's Miskito people.
He was a professor of the humanities at Boston University, which created the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies in his honor. He was involved with Jewish causes and human rights causes and helped establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Wiesel was awarded various prestigious awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He was a founding board member of the New York Human Rights Foundation and remained active in it throughout his life.

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
25(25%)
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100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
RudolfTostarrica
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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The idea and ideas within the play are truly fascinating and are well worth visiting. Elie Wiesel is indeed a master of writing, not only about Jewish suffering but also about human suffering in general. However, I can't quite give this play a full five stars.

It begins rather slowly, and there are one or two plot turns that seem very forced. It takes an eternity to reach the trial itself, and then it doesn't fully follow through with the idea of a "trial of God" in the sense of having a complete and comprehensive trial. In fact, it seems that the trial itself lasts only a few pages.

These issues end up being rather nitpicky in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, there are many other elements of the play that work extremely well. The characters are richly developed and full-bodied, the dialogue is solid, and the atmosphere of the place seems to seep out of the words.

Overall, this is a very good play that just misses the mark of being truly great. It has its flaws, but it also has many strengths that make it a worthwhile read or viewing.
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JKao
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A fairly short book,


but one of the best books I’ve ever read in an extremely long time.


The play is absolutely thrilling.


It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.


The twists and turns are truly remarkable.


They, along with the emotionally captivating characters and the setting,


create a truly brilliant piece in Jewish trauma and distrust.


The author has managed to weave a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking.


The characters are so well-developed that I felt as if I knew them personally.


The setting adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story.


Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good read.


It is a must-read for those interested in Jewish history and culture.


I can't wait to read more from this author.


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littlebitofanime
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Many times after the Syrian revolution, I held such a trial in mind.

It was a trial that played out in the recesses of my thoughts, with various scenarios and outcomes.

Sometimes, I imagined a just and fair verdict that would bring closure and peace to the war-torn nation.

The trial would be a platform to hold those responsible for the atrocities accountable.

However, at other times, I feared that the outcome might be influenced by politics and power struggles.

The hope for a truly just trial seemed to fade away.

Nevertheless, the idea of such a trial continued to linger in my mind, a symbol of the longing for justice and a better future for Syria.

It was a constant reminder that the wounds of the revolution could only be healed through truth and accountability.

Even though the actualization of this trial seemed distant, it remained a powerful concept that kept my spirit alive.

Maybe one day, a trial would take place, and the world would witness the pursuit of justice in Syria.
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Gao_Shun
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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The best play I have ever read is an absolute gem.

Despite being very short, it manages to pack a powerful punch. The story unfolds in a concise yet captivating manner, with every word carefully chosen to convey the essence of the plot and the emotions of the characters.

The simplicity of the play is its greatest strength, allowing the audience to focus on the core themes and ideas without being distracted by unnecessary details.

It has a unique charm that lingers in the mind long after it has been read, leaving a lasting impression.

Whether it is the clever dialogue, the engaging characters, or the thought-provoking storyline, this play has it all.

It is a testament to the power of good writing and a reminder that sometimes, less is truly more.

I would highly recommend this play to anyone who loves the art of theater and is looking for a quick yet fulfilling read.
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loooo908
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Kurze, aber dennoch sehr anregende Bücher sind selten. Dieses Buch ist jedoch eine wunderbare Ausnahme. Es enthält einige wirklich intensive Zitate, die mich tief beeindruckt haben. Zum Beispiel,

"Es ist uns erlaubt, Gott in Frage zu stellen, Gott herauszufordern, von Gott Rechenschaft zu verlangen. Und das bedeutet nicht, Gott zu schmälern, sondern ihn wirklich ernst zu nehmen."

Dieser Satz verdeutlicht, dass wir als Menschen das Recht haben, Gott zu hinterfragen und ihn zu fordern. Es zeigt, dass wir Gott nicht einfach akzeptieren sollten, sondern ihn auch kritisch hinterfragen sollten, um ihn wirklich zu verstehen.

Weitere interessante Zitate finden sich auch in den anderen Aussagen des Autors. Zum Beispiel sagt er: "Ich möchte lästern und schaffe es nicht ganz. Ich trete gegen ihn an, schüttle meine Faust, schäume vor Wut, aber es ist immer noch eine Art, ihm zu sagen, dass er da ist, dass er existiert, dass er nie zweimal derselbe ist, dass die Verweigerung selbst ein Opfer für seine Größe ist. Der Schrei wird zu einem Gebet trotz mir."

Dieser Satz verdeutlicht, dass es möglich ist, trotz unserer Kritik und unserer Wut auf Gott, ihn doch zu erkennen und anzuerkennen. Es zeigt, dass auch die Verweigerung und die Kritik ein Ausdruck unserer Anerkennung von Gott sein können.

Insgesamt ist dieses Buch ein wunderbares Werk, das sowohl theologisch als auch literarisch sehr interessant ist. Es bietet viele Anregungen und lässt einen nachdenken, über die Rolle von Gott in unserem Leben und über die Bedeutung der Religion in der heutigen Welt.
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Kwaiston
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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For a long time, I have just been engaged in getting the trial going.

During this process, I did not have a profound philosophical feeling as I had expected.

I had anticipated that there would be more in-depth thoughts and insights emerging.

However, it seems that the actual situation did not meet my initial expectations.

Perhaps there are still many aspects that need to be further explored and understood.

I hope that in the future, I can have a more profound perception and understanding in this regard, and be able to gain more valuable experiences and lessons.

Only in this way can I continuously improve myself and make greater progress.

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OtakuGirrl
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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La sua genesi: Nel regno della notte, io avevo assistito a un processo davvero strano.

Tre rabbini eruditi e pii avevano deciso una sera d’inverno di giudicare Dio per il massacro dei suoi figli. Mi ricordo chiaramente: io ero lì, e avevo la voglia di piangere. Tuttavia, nessuno piangeva.

Chiamare Dio alla sbarra per il male che accade è una tentazione comune a tutti, anche ai carnefici.

Un bambino, un ragazzo che ha vissuto l’orrore... e che ha avuto il suo Dio e la sua anima assassinati...

“Mai dimenticherò quella notte, la prima notte nel campo, che ha trasformato la mia vita in una lunga notte e per sette volte sprangata.

Mai dimenticherò quel fumo.

Mai dimenticherò i piccoli volti dei bambini di cui ho visto i corpi trasformarsi in volute di fumo sotto un cielo muto.

Mai dimenticherò quelle fiamme che hanno bruciato per sempre la mia Fede.

Mai dimenticherò quel silenzio notturno che mi ha tolto per l'eternità il desiderio di vivere.

Mai dimenticherò quegli istanti che hanno assassinato il mio Dio e la mia anima, e i miei sogni, che hanno preso il volto del deserto.

Mai dimenticherò tutto ciò, anche se fossi condannato a vivere quanto Dio stesso. Mai”. (Elie Wiesel, La Notte)

C’è un bassorilievo alla fine del percorso dello Yad Vashem di Gerusalemme, che raffigura il medico e pedagogista polacco Januz Korczak, morto a Treblinka nel 1942. Il volto triste, tristissimo, di un’amarezza senza fine che abbraccia i suoi figli morti, i bambini dell’orfanatrofio ebraico del Ghetto di Varsavia.

Ecco... Dio, per me, ha quel volto e quella mestizia, … e quell’abbraccio... e una tenerezza infinita...

Letto una prima volta nel 1986 (gli avrei dato 4 stelline, anche allora). Non so dire altro...

Questa storia è così profonda e impressionante che lascia un segno indelebile nella nostra mente. Elie Wiesel riesce a descrivere con maestria le sofferenze e le speranze di quei giorni terribili. La sua scrittura è poetica e coinvolgente, facendoci immergere nella realtà dei personaggi. Il brano che cita “Mai dimenticherò...” è particolarmente emozionante, perché ci permette di capire l’intensità delle emozioni dell’autore. Inoltre, il riferimento al bassorilievo di Januz Korczak aggiunge un altro livello di profondità alla storia, ricordandoci la figura di un uomo coraggioso e generoso che ha dato la propria vita per proteggere i bambini.

In conclusione, questa lettura è stata un’esperienza molto significativa per me, e mi ha fatto riflettere sulle questioni più profonde della vita e della morte.
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Chomusuke07
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I haven't read a book that has taken my emotions on such a wild ride in a very long time.

The storytelling in this book is truly powerful and masterful. It has the ability to grip you from the very beginning and keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

The characters are so well-developed that you can't help but become invested in their lives and root for them through all of their trials and tribulations.

The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.

This is a book that will not soon be forgotten. It will stay with you long after you've turned the last page and will make you want to pick it up and read it again.

If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between, then this is the book for you.
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