Shlomo

In the Beginning . . . 

Shlomo was a respected community leader in the Jewish community of Sighet. He, like many other Jewish people, does not listen when other people warn them of the dangers that was coming. He was unwilling to take risks or leave the community, deciding that the family should not emigrate and should stay in Sighet. Even when they travel to the concentration camps he decided the family should go into hiding with their maid, Maria. He is very optimistic. 

In the Middle . . .

Once Shlomo and Eliezer were at the concentration camps, he loses his optimism and becomes a realist. He tells his son that they are in danger and that the SS officers will burn and kill them and the other prisoners of the concentration camps. He learns to never refuse anything edible and ration their food. Over time he becomes weaker and ill and has to rely heavily on Eliezer. When he dies, the once strong community member was defenseless, easily brought to tears, and completely reliant on Eliezer.