Primo Levi wrote in the author’s preface to If This Is a Man that his purpose in writing was to provide “documentation for a quiet study of certain aspects of the human mind.” Thirty years into his writing career, in an appendix for scholastic editions of his book, he wrote, “The judges are my readers.” He explained the need to adopt a calm, sober voice in his account, to avoid emotional overtones. In this way, he assumed the voice of a witness who “in matters of justice perform[s] his task, which is that of preparing the ground for the judge.” Moral philosophers as well as literary and political theorists provide guidance in intentionally reading as a judge who inherits another’s story as an ethical statement and charge. By undertaking an empathic reading of Levi’s account, readers assume the responsibility to critically judge genocidal crimes. When we assume the ethical responsibility with which Levi charges his readers, we assume a conscious commitment and practice to defend human life from injustice, scapegoating, and violent oppression. We work to build knowledge to address contemporary structures of violence so as to best practice the ethics Levi asked of his readers.