ew his entire life and when he started to think on his own, all the other Jewish conformists, for instance, his mother, the rabbi, and Yakov, shudder with disgust and disappointment. They have no idea how to get him off the roof. Ozzie realizes that he has been forced to be complacent with half-wit answers and little explanation for why he should believe what they beleive. In response to his realization, Ozzie made everybody say it. And then he made them all say they believed in Jesus Christ-first one at a time, then all together (1111). In doing this, he has put his classmates, his mother, Rabbi Binder, and Yakov Blotnik in his former position. He had power over them now because of his position on the roof; they had to listen. Religious complacency in the form of conformity happens all the time. Some people choose to dedicate themselves to a certain religious group merely to fill our needs for acceptance and meaning. Itzie, Ozzies best friend, displays unintelligence and narrow-minded conformity. Itzie knew nothing about Jesus Christ until Ozzie told him that Jesus had an earthly mother and father but that his real father was supposedly God. Itzie responded, Sure its impossible. That stuffs all bull. To have a baby you gotta get laid (1102). Itzie desires simplicity when it comes to his religion. Ozzies story about discussing the virgin birth with Rabbi Binder had no spiritual impact on Itzie. The only interest Itzie really showed came from the fact that both Ozzie and Rabbi Binder had said the word intercourse in front of the entire class. The next day at school during free-discussion time, Ozzie asks Rabbi Binder why God cannot make anything He wants to make. While the ra!bbi hesitates to formulate a response, Itzie raised one finger on his left hand, gestured it meaningfully towards the rabbis back, and brought the house down (1105). If Itzie had any true respect for his religion, he would have patiently awa...
