tions make the church look. Yakov Blotnik, the janitor, categorizes all events into two pools: things were either good-for-the-Jews or no-good-for-the-Jews (1107). An old man who has memorized all his prayers and forgotten about God, he sees Ozzies demonstration as not so bad; however, Yakov knows that the boy had to come down immediately, before anybody saw (1107). Calling the fire department did the deliberate opposite of what Yakov and Rabbi Binder wanted. It drew more attention to the rebellious boy. This boys rebellion affected many people. It upset his mother, embarrassed his religious figure, confused an old! man, and caused his peers to, yet again, conform to something they know nothing about. Ozzies mother sees his display as martyrdom. When they hear her say dont be a martyr, they start a cheer of their own. Ozzie hears them from the rooftop, Be a Martin, be a Martin, and all the voices joined in singing for Martindom, whatever it was (1110). Ozzie desires answers to his questions. Without spiritual questioning, ones religious beliefs hold no importance. Ozzies faith has no backbone. He does not realize his Judaism comes from his mother and that he lacks dedication to being Jewish. He asks questions, not to strengthen his Jewish faith, but rather to attempt to prove to the conformist Jews that there are questions that Judaism does not answer. After asking Rabbi Binder why God cannot make anything He wants to, Ozzie responds to his silence saying, You dont know! You dont know anything about God! (1105). After the rabbi hits him, Ozzie runs out of the room, ending up on the roof of the school. He lost control, slipping into a rebellious tantrum while he discovered himself no longer kneeling, but racing crazily towards the edge of the roof, his eyes crying, his throat screaming, and his arms flying everywhichway as though not his own! (1106). Rebellion, in Ozzies case, took over. He had worn t!he mask of a J...
