Essay On Jewish Ghetto

Words: 480
Pages: 2

Jewish Ghettos

It is widely known what went on between the Jews and Germans during World War II. An unthinkable amount of Jews were murdered because of Hitler’s hatred and fury. Millions of people today still cringe at the thought of how people were treated in concentration camps, but many are unaware of the harsh reality that existed in the Jewish ghettos.

In today’s world we know the word ghetto as just a label, it’s something we say so easily without thought. We use this word every day and think there’s no effect, but during World War II it was much more than a label, much more than a name it was a reality, something people had to endure everyday. Ghettos were parts of cities in Europe set up to segregate Jews from the rest of the population. There are 3 types of ghettos: closed ghettos, open ghettos, and destruction ghettos, all three serve a different purpose.
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The Jews were only allowed to take a few personal items with them to the ghetto while still having to deal with their homes and property being stripped from them. The ghettos were extremely crowded; therefore, it lacked basic electrical and sanitary needs. “The food rations were insufficient for supporting the ghettos’ inhabitants, and the Germans employed brutal measures against the smugglers, including both public and private executions. Starvation increased and worsened in the ghettos and many of the inhabitants became ill or perished.” (Yad Vashem) Despite the murderous reality that the Jews were exposed to, many helped the weak and created organizations for mutual aid and welfare. Many Jews placed themselves in utmost danger in order to save the lives of others, including children who risked their lives to smuggle food into the ghetto. With the help of music, books, and theater it gave them an outlet and helped them escape from the harsh reality around them and gave them a reminder of their previous