Ultimately, the struggles that Moishe the Beadle went through motivated him to preserve the well being of others. His actions demonstrate that empathy increased during this pivotal time in history.
Not only was empathy seen across social classes during the time, but the concentration camp experience also induced empathy later in life. By experiencing the horror that is living in a camp designed to kill, the inmates got a new perspective on life. When the prisoners of Auschwitz were transported to Gleiwitz, some Germans would toss bread into their train cabins. In an effort to fill their empty stomachs the Jews would fight to the death for a loaf of bread. Looking back on this, Wiesel is reminded of a similar experience he had years later. While on a cruise ship, the passengers found pleasure in throwing coins to the poor natives. In particular, Weisel notes "an elegant Parisian lady." "When I noticed two children desperately fighting [over the coins] in the water, one trying to strangle the other, I implored on the lady: 'Please, don't throw any more coins!'" (Weisel 100). Before, Elie, much like the others, overlooked the poor. As long as they stayed in their place and out of their way, society was not bothered by them. However, after living in the gruesome conditions of Auschwitz, Elie understood what living with nothing is actually like. The fact that Elie Wiesel experienced both physical and mental strife gave him a very different outlook on life. The exposure to a way of life in which even sleeping is dangerous made him truly understand what real struggle is, and understand what it means to have nothing. This is what causes him to stand up for the native children. After witnessing the extremes that people go to just to obtain basic necessities, Elie realizes that the lady's "charity" is not helping the boys, but rather is causing them more pain. Thus, showing that as Elie became aware of how the poor live, his ignorance diminished.