How are Josef and Mahmoud alike?

Josef is a young, Jewish boy. Over the course of the story, we come to see Josef as mature, caring, religious, and ultimately, concerned with the welfare and safety of his family. When his father becomes ill, he takes on the paternal role..... caring for his sister, and spending time with his sick father when his mother is unavailable. In the end, Josef sacrifices his own life, so that his sister might live.

Mahmoud, a young Muslim boy, is the same age as Josef. Like Josef, he finds himself in a struggle to survive, and he looks out for his family in the process. Unlike Josef, Mahmoud survives, finds assylum, and ultimately lives.