What is one quote from The Devil's Arithmetic that tells us why we should remember history?

"Hannah nodded and took her aunt's fingers from her lips. She said, in a voice much louder than she had intended, so loud that the entire table hushed at its sound, 'I remember. Oh, I remember.'"--Hannah

This is a very good question because one of the central themes of the book is memory and its relationship to cultural heritage and history. It was not difficult to find a quote that answers this issue because the...

"Hannah nodded and took her aunt's fingers from her lips. She said, in a voice much louder than she had intended, so loud that the entire table hushed at its sound, 'I remember. Oh, I remember.'"--Hannah

This is a very good question because one of the central themes of the book is memory and its relationship to cultural heritage and history. It was not difficult to find a quote that answers this issue because the book's purpose is to have the reader reflect on the importance of remembering the past. Hannah, as an adolescent in modern times, is dismissive of the Jewish traditions. She does not see the relevance in learning about the heritage of her people. When she is made to experience the Holocaust, her feelings about learning from the past are changed.

The quote mentioned above comes at the end of the story. With the quote, the novel's central theme comes full circle. Hannah promises Aunt Eva that she will always remember the pain and misery that her ancestors experienced. By sharing the experiences of Jews during the Holocaust, she can pass this history down to future generations so their suffering is not forgotten.