- 18 and 40: ages Elie and his father pretend to be
- A-7713: identification number engraved on Elie's arm
- Auschwitz: First concentrations camp Elie is taken
- baton: stick used to separate prisoners in selection process
- Birkenau: reception center for Aushwitz
- cabbala: mystical writings
- crematory: fiery furnace
- deport foreign Jews: first sign of oppression
- Dr. Mengele: infamous Nazi doctor
- ghetto: jewish settlements set up by the Germans
- his mother and sisters: Elie is separated from
- Madame Schacter: was beaten for her screaming
- Sighet: Eliezer and his family come from this town
- Talmud: Jewish religious text.
- The "Kaddish": prayer for the dead
- Tzipora: Eliezer's oldest sister's name
- Warn the villagers: Upon his return to the village, Moshe tries to
- yellow starq: identifying symbol for all Jews