The Conversion of the Jews

“What Ozzie wanted to know was always different. The first time he had wanted to know how Rabbi Binder could call the Jews ‘The Chosen People’ if the Declaration of Independence claimed all men to be created equal.”

This quote presents a humorous paradox for Ozzie’s community as both Jews and Americans. The paradox puts into question long-held beliefs and presents an existential quandary for the story’s protagonist. Ozzie’s relevant and insightful questions suggest that he genuinely seeks understanding. His interrogation of the rabbi is not merely a matter of adolescent rebellion.

“As she touched the flaming match to the unlit wick of a Sabbath candle, the phone rang, and Ozzie, standing only a foot from it, plucked it off the receiver and held it muffled to his chest. When his mother lit candles Ozzie felt there should be no noise; even breathing, if you could manage it, should be softened.”

This is a moment of religious reverence for Ozzie and his mother. He quickly silences the phone to allow his mother to have a peaceful, ceremonial moment. The tender moment between mother and son is juxtaposed with violence immediately after this scene when Ozzie’s mother strikes him.

“He told her that she would have to see Rabbi Binder next Wednesday at four-thirty, and then he told her why. For the first time in their life together she hit Ozzie across the face with her hand. All through the chopped liver and chicken soup part of the dinner Ozzie cried; he didn’t have any appetite for the rest.”

Ozzie is betrayed by his mother after being honest with her that his question in Rabbi Binder’s class got him in trouble. Ozzie reprimands his mother for this act at the end of the story.

“To most of the students Yakov Blotnik’s mumbling, along with his brown curly beard, scythe nose, and two heel-trailing black cats, made him an object of wonder, a foreigner, a relic, towards whom they were alternatively fearful and disrespectful. To Ozzie the mumbling had always seemed a monotonous, curious prayer; what made it curious was that old Blotnik had been mumbling so steadily for so many years. Ozzie suspected he had memorized the prayers and forgotten all about God.”

This passage presents an example of the tension between the modern Jewish American and the less assimilated Jewish immigrant in America. Blotnik is mostly ignored by both students and Rabbi Binder, and he also represents the emptiness of tradition for tradition’s sake.

“When it was Ozzie’s turn to read aloud from the Hebrew book the rabbi had asked him petulantly why he didn’t read more rapidly. He was showing no progress. Ozzie said he could read faster but that if he did he was sure not to understand what he was reading. Nevertheless, at the rabbi’s repeated suggestion Ozzie tried, and showed a great talent, but in the midst of a long passage he stopped short and said he didn’t understand a word he was reading, and started in again at a drag-footed pace. Then came the soul-battering.”

Rabbi Binder is not interested in whether his students understand the Hebrew they are instructed to read aloud. This passage is a critique of following tradition for its own sake. Ozzie’s goal is to understand the reading, not simply to pronounce it quickly.

“Consequently, when free-discussion time rolled around none of the students felt too free.”

This sentence speaks to the oppression of Rabbi Binder’s classroom and is a critique of authority. Rabbi Binder’s classroom can be read as a parallel to a fascist state, and the “free-discussion time” exemplifies the hypocrisy that oppressive regimes engage in to maintain the illusion of legitimacy.

“Trapped, Ozzie blurted the first thing that came to him. ‘Why can’t He make anything He wants to make!’”

The question that Ozzie is in trouble for asking at the beginning of the story comes up again. Binder’s answers do not satisfy the student and his curiosity gets the best of him, sparking the confrontation that leads to the rooftop incident.

“You don’t know! You don’t know anything about God!”

The truth is finally revealed in this outburst by Ozzie, which exposes the ignorance of his teacher. It is a transgressive moment, proving that at times the truth, in the face of oppression, can be an act of defiance. The act is, at the same time, disrespectful and antisocial.

“Rabbi Binder’s hand flicked out at Ozzie’s cheek. Perhaps it had only been meant to clamp the boy’s mouth shut, but Ozzie ducked and the palm caught him squarely on the nose. The blood came in a short, red spurt on to Ozzie’s shirt front.”

This confrontation leads to the rooftop incident and parallels the violent act by Mrs. Freedman. Rabbi Binder attempts to physically silence Ozzie, exposing the teacher’s ignorance since he is unable to answer Ozzie through logic. This is the second time in the story Ozzie faces physical abuse for questioning tradition.

“A question shot through his brain. ‘Can this be me?’ For a thirteen-year-old who had just labeled his religious leader a bastard, twice, it was not an improper question. Louder and louder the question came to him […] ‘Is it me? Is it me Me ME ME ME! It has to be me—but is it!’”

This passage depicts a moment of existential crisis for Ozzie. He finds himself nearly outside the narrative, reflecting on the absurdity of his situation. His actions, which seem justified at the time, appear now to be those of a different person. What does it mean to be a self when one’s beliefs and behaviors change radically in only a few minutes?

“Ozzie, who a moment earlier hadn’t been able to control his own body, started to feel the meaning of the word control: he felt Peace and he felt Power.”

Soon after having his existential crisis, Ozzie has a moment of clarity. The power dynamic between Ozzie and Rabbi Binder is inverted, and the protagonist begins taunting the crowd, his teacher, and his mother.

“Few dictators give their subjects three to do anything; but, as always, Rabbi Binder only looked dictatorial.”

Rabbi Binder demands that Ozzie come down from the roof by the time he counts to three. Ozzie does not respond and thereby exposes the rabbi’s lack of power. While the rabbi is not a dictator in the sense that he has no power in the situation, he looks like a dictator and would perhaps be one if he could.

“‘A martyr I have. Look!’ She tilted her head to the roof. Ozzie was still flapping softly. ‘My martyr.’ […] ‘Gawhead, Ozz—be a Martin!’ It was Itzie.”

This passage reflects the motif of misunderstanding and the breakdown of communication. Mrs. Freedman misinterprets Ozzie taunting the firefighters as an act of martyrdom; Itzie, ignorant of the term “martyr,” thinks she said “Martin.” Ozzie is an unwilling spectacle who fled to the roof to escape the oppression and violence of Rabbi Binder’s class.