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Camp Rules vs. Rivka's Rules

Do you ever get tired of following rules? Being a European Jew in the early 1900's was really hard, and became even deadly during the Holocaust. Concentration camps were camps set by the Nazi's where the Jews had to follow all the rules. It was a harsh place for the Jews to be at. In the book //The Devil's Arithmetic//, the Nazis and a Jewish prisoner named Rivka both have thoughts on the rules that should be followed. Both sets of rules explain how the Jews can stay alive. Both sets help maintain order and boundaries.

In the camp, the officer, the tattooist, Rivka, and the three-fingered woman told the rules to the Jews. Many rules had to be obeyed which were told by the Nazi's and one of them were to work hard, or die. This was told as the Nazi's had many plans for them. Another rule was to deprive identity, which was to follow the Nazi's culture. This was told by the officer.This was told by the tattooist. This was told by the Nazi's. The Jews were told to remember a tattooed number and forget their name. Also they were told not to question what was asked of them, or they would regret it. The intent of the rules is to make the Jews terrified. They wanted to deprive them of there  culture too, so they would have to follow theirs. Another intent of the rules that the Nazis had for the Jews, was to deprive them of hope and make them forget their past. That way they wouldn't know anything more about their culture. Lastly, the Nazis wanted the prisoners to be healthy so they would work harder.

Rivka, a ten-year old Jewish prisoner, knows all about the Nazis and what things are going to happen to the Jews as she has been in the camp for at least two years. In addition to the camp rules, Rivka has rules too, such as to remember the tattooed number in some sort of way, so they wouldn't get in trouble if the Nazis asked them. Another rule was to know when to fight if something really serious happened, and don't attract attention to yourself as the Nazis would find something wrong with you and most likely punish you. Also the Jews were told not to stand next to someone with a G in their number, because that means Greek and this could lead to some serious problems. The intent of Rivka's rules was to keep the Jews safe from danger and to keep them alive. Also she wanted the Jews to have hope, so they might have a chance to survive.

Just like we have to follow rules in our everyday lives from our parents, teachers, and older people, the Jews have to follow rules in //T//// he Devil's Arithmetic //. Some are similar and others are different, but the rules both have an intent to why there should be rules. Rules are to be followed to be safe, like Rivka told, and sometimes told to do something which is not good, like the camp told the Jews. <range type="comment" id="235475">Rules are told to be followed and they should not be disobeyed.

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