Primo Levi, who was a Jewish chemist, writer, and Holocaust survivor wrote a poem called Shema that takes on his opinion about society’s reaction to the Holocaust. The title of this poem means a prayer that is repeated twice daily. It is often the first prayer taught to a child. By titling his poem this, Primo attempts to redefine the traditional prayer in his poem. First, he addresses readers in the poem who go home to a warm house and are safe with friendly faces and plentiful foods. Levi pleads with them, saying “Consider this is a man...who knows no peace...who dies at a yes or no” (Levi 1). Basically, this poem aims to persuade people to remember, specifically, to still have the horrors of the holocaust in mind. Just like a prayer, to…show more content… As a survivor of the genocide, the author is confused why people aren’t as affected by it as they should be. Levi especially expresses his concern when he states, “Consider that this has been: I commend these words to you. Engrave them on your hearts..repeat them to your children, or may your house crumble, disease render powerless, your offspring avert their faces from you” (Levi 1). Even the author knows that the Holocaust should be imprinted more on people’s minds. This is why i chose this poem, because of the plea for remembrance that is revealed. The desperate manner of the author shows me the extent at which the danger of another Holocaust is. This research element has altered my perception of my GRQ by showing me that I need to look more broad to answer my question. I have been looking for a specific view of Jews after World War 2, but it may not have changed at all. I now know that I should be answering my question with where Anti-Semitism has grown or receded because of the Holocaust. Obviously in Europe it withdrew for a little after the full impact of the Holocaust settled in on people, but now that it has been 70 years since it occurred, the generation now doesn’t know what really
