The native Jews of Sighet express their indifference when foreign Jews are deported by the Hungarian police. Moishe the Beadle and other foreign Jews are rounded up and transported out of Sighet. The Jews left behind are not concerned by the event, and some of them suggest that it was just an aspect of war and was unavoidable. It later emerges that the Jews were killed save for Moishe the Beadle who went back to Sighet and narrated the event to a dismissive audience.
Behind me, someone said, sighing, "What do you expect? That's war."
The Jews remained indifferent even when the situation before them worsened. According to Eliezer, the Jews were not worried that the Fascists had seized power in Budapest. To the Jews, the event was of no significance.
Yet we still were not worried. Of course, we had heard of the Fascists, but it was all in the abstract. It meant nothing more to us than a change of ministry.
Eliezer’s father was not concerned at the turn of events. He suggested that wearing the yellow star had no impact on their lives.
The yellow star? So what? It's not lethal.
After spending time in the camps, the prisoners lose hope, and they are no longer worried about what will happen to them.
Our minds numb with indifference. Here or elsewhere, what did it matter? Die today or tomorrow, or later?
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