The Müselmann at the Water Cooler

Eli Pfefferkorn reflects on his harrowing experiences as a Holocaust survivor, drawing parallels between the extreme behaviors observed in concentration camps and those in everyday life. He highlights the plight of the Muselmann, an inmate who has lost his will to live, and compares it to a disgraced office worker shunned by colleagues. Through this juxtaposition, Pfefferkorn explores the enduring nature of human responses driven by self-preservation, suggesting that fundamental aspects of the human condition remain unchanged throughout history.