Part I, Chapter 39, Next Year in Jerusalem Summary and Analysis

In Part I, Chapter 39, the year of 1937 comes to a close. Ginzburg and Julia are in ill-health. They are also becoming disillusioned with the Soviet system. Julia is determined to see the New Year. She has been saving butter for toast and sugar to sweeten their water on New Year's Eve. They long to return to the world the way the Jews long to return to Jerusalem.

The year passes and Ginzburg and Julia become increasingly more ill. Between the mold growing in their cells, the lack of heat, air, and proper food and water, they are slowly starving. No matter how many times they or other prisoners plead with the guards for better conditions, their pleas fall on deaf ears. These pleas are unanswered for various reasons, including...