There are at least two literary devices used to describe Moishe the Beadle in the opening paragraphs of Elie Wiesel's poignant memoir.

First, he is described as a "jack of all trades," which is an aphorism. An aphorism is a literary device in which a simple phrase represents a far more complex idea. This particular phrase refers to Moishe's ability to do perform a variety of jobs. The reason for the inclusion of the name "Jack" in this aphorism is the extremely common nature of the name. Thanks to its popularity, the name Jack was deemed to be able to refer to anybody, and so a Jack of all trades is anybody who can do a variety of useful, practical things. The meaning behind this aphorism is therefore that Moishe is known for his array of skills.

A further figure of speech, in the form of a simile, is used in the second paragraph, where Moishe is described as "as awkward as a clown." A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using either "like" or "as," and this simile relates to Moishe's appearance, creating a mental picture of a man who looks strange or unusual. The purpose of a simile is to create a connection between things which seem to be unrelated. As a serious man of religious study, Moishe would have had nothing in common with a clown.