Why does wiesel mention the St. Louis in thus passage?

The reference to the St. Louis in the passage provides historical context related to the plight of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. The St. Louis was a German ocean liner that, in May 1939, carried over 900 Jewish refugees from Germany to Cuba. However, the Cuban government denied entry to the ship, and it was eventually forced to return to Europe. Most of the passengers were later killed during the Holocaust.

By mentioning the St. Louis, the author establishes a connection between the specific experiences of Jewish refugees during World War II and the broader theme of the passage, which is the indifference and lack of compassion shown by countries towards Jewish refugees seeking safety. The St. Louis incident is often cited as an example of the international community's reluctance to help Jewish refugees escape from Nazi persecution, and it highlights the desperate circumstances that many Jews faced during that period.