What have been some challenges that hannah faced in " the devils arithmetic"?

In the novel "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen, the protagonist, Hannah (also known as Chaya in the story), faces numerous challenges. Here are some of the main challenges Hannah encounters:

1. Cultural Alienation: At the story's beginning, Hannah Stern is a modern Jewish girl who has a lack of interest in and connection to her Jewish heritage. She is bored with her family's Passover Seder and doesn't understand the importance of remembering the past.

2. Time Travel/Disorientation: Hannah is suddenly transported back in time to 1942 Poland during a Passover Seder when she opens the door for the prophet Elijah, a traditional part of the ceremony. This experience is disorienting, and she initially believes it to be a dream.

3. Identity Shift: In the past, she is known as Chaya Abramowicz, a young Jewish girl who is living in a different era. She must adapt to the customs and lifestyle of a Jewish village during World War II, which is vastly different from her own.

4. Loss and Grief: Hannah/Chaya experiences tremendous loss as she lives through the traumatic events of the Holocaust. She witnesses the loss of friends and family members and must come to terms with the harsh realities of life and death during this period.

5. Harsh Realities of the Holocaust: Hannah/Chaya is subjected to the horrors of the Holocaust, including the dehumanization and brutality inflicted upon Jews at the hands of the Nazis. This includes being transported to a concentration camp, experiencing starvation, forced labor, fear, and witnessing the inhumane treatment and death of other prisoners.

6. Responsibility and Sacrifice: She faces the challenge of taking responsibility for the younger children in the camp, as well as making a profound sacrifice for the sake of others, which is a central theme of the book.

7. Retaining Hope and Humanity: Throughout the harrowing experiences in the concentration camp, Hannah/Chaya struggles to maintain hope and her sense of humanity in the face of overwhelming despair and cruelty.

The novel's conclusion is both powerful and poignant, as Hannah returns to her present life with a transformed understanding of her cultural identity and the importance of remembering the past.

Extra: "The Devil's Arithmetic" is set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, one of the darkest periods of human history during which six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime. Through the story of Hannah/Chaya, the novel explores themes of memory, identity, and the importance of bearing witness to the past. It serves as a vehicle for educating young readers about the Holocaust, emphasizing why it is critical to remember such historical events to prevent them from occurring again.

The novel also discusses the Jewish tradition of storytelling and commemoration. The Passover Seder, a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of Passover, plays an integral role in the novel. It is a time when Jewish people gather to remember their deliverance from slavery in ancient Egypt. Through Hannah's experiences, readers come to understand how the retelling of past sufferings and triumphs helps to preserve cultural identity and impart lessons to future generations.

Moreover, the concept of time travel in the book serves as a metaphor for the importance of historical consciousness and empathy. By literally placing the protagonist in the past, the narrative allows readers to gain an emotional and personal understanding of the events of the Holocaust, going beyond mere facts and figures. Through Hannah's eyes, readers experience the emotional gravity of history and its lasting impact on those who lived through it and on future generations.