THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS - PHILIP ROTH

Although the main character, Ozzie, is only 13 years old, he has a very mature way of thinking about religion and the world. In the beginning of the short story, Ozzie shows both the connections and differences of Judaism and Christanity. When attending Sunday school, his Rabbi explained to Ozzie that the Jews believe that Jesus existed, but they believe he was human just like they were. However, his Rabbi also explained that Catholics believe that Jesus is God, and is also the son of God. They believe that Mary was a virgin , and that Jesus was the miricle. However, the Rabbi says that Jews do not believe that it was possible for Mary to have a baby without intercorse. Ozzie has a want for deeper knowledge. On many occasions he has challenged the things that his Rabbi has said. Ozzie understands what the Rabbi is explaning, but he cannot grasp the concept that God could not create a child without intercorse but could create so many other miricles. Ozzie stated, "' I asked Binder (the Rabbi) if he could make all that in six days, and he could pick the six days he wanted out of nowhere, why couldn't He let a woman have a baby without intercorse?" (pg 5). Ozzie is unique from his peers because he is willing to challenge beliefs. He does not just say he believes something because an authority told him to. Ozzie goes back to a memory where he challenged the Rabbi and his idea of Jews being the Chosen People. Ozzie cannot make sense of the idea that the Decleration of Independence says that all men are created equal, but the Jews call themselves the "Chosen People." He couldnt comprehend that when a plane crashed, his grandmother only mourned for the Jews who died. He shouted in his hebrew school class that he wished all 58 people were Jews. Both of these times, Ozzie's mother needed to come into school. Ozzie is looking for logic, something that will make everything make sense. What Ozzie does not realize is that religion is faith. Not everything necessarily makes sense, but it is a belieg that one follows if they have faith in a certain idea or God. But Ozzie needed to understand God. When the Rabbi tried to answer his questions, he did it based on Jewish ideas. However, in Ozzie;s mind the Rabbi was not understanding god. "Ozzie suspected that he had memorized the prayers and forgotten about God" (7). Ozzie didnt feel that the Rabbi understood God because he could not answer Ozzie's questions. When Ozzie tells the Rabbi he doesnt know God, the Rabbi slaps him accross the face. Ozzie runs out of the building locking himself on the roof. When he is up on the ledge, he is not even thinking about jumping. He needed to be alone and to try and make sense of his beliefs and ideas. While his friends cheer for him to jump, the Rabbi and his mother cry and beg for him to get down. He orders everyone to kneel down and admit that they believe in Jesus. Although he did not realize it, he was acting as if he was God. He was ordering people to do as he wanted. He many times refered to the Rabbi and his ideas as a dictator. However, Ozzie is trying to control peoples ideas and beliefs, in essence acting like a dictator. Even more odd is that Ozzie is a 13 year old Jewish boy trying to convince people that Jesus's birth was possible. Ozzie's belief that God could create earth, light, wind... create Ozzie's belief that Mary was a Virgin, and that Jesus was a God. His last idea that he tells everyone, especially his mother, who had slapped him for questioning the Rabbi at hebrew school, was that "You'll never hit anyone over God" (20). This idea goes far beyond a physical slap. He is saying that people should not be punbished for believing something, and that each person should have the own ideas and create their own beliefs about god. Religion is an influence to beliefs, but it should not limit ones ideas or beliefs.

From The Book :"Modern Jewish Stories" Edited by Gerda Charles
(Short Story: "The Conversion of Jews" by Philip Roth