In the story “The Conversion of the Jews” by Philip Roth the character Oscar “Ozzie” Freedman is a thirteen year old boy who constantly questions the Jewish faith. He attends school at the Jewish Synagogue and his teacher is Rabbi Binder. Ozzie is being raised by his mother, Mrs. Freedman who is a devoted Jewish woman. He has no Father since his father passed away. Mrs. Freedman is a small gray haired lady who looks very tired all of the time. She has been called to the school Ozzie attends several times due to what Rabbi Binder considers Ozzie’s rebellious ways. Ozzie has a few friends, but the one he confides in most is Itze Lieberman. The point of view character is Oscar “Ozzie” Freedman whose central internal conflict involves choosing either faith or doubt; Rabbi Binder represents faith; Itzie represents doubt.

One side of Ozzie’s conflict is faith. In the beginning of the story Ozzie is talking to Itzie about a conversation he and Rabbi Binder had about how Ozzie feels that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that it was possible that God could create a human being without a woman having intercourse. He feels frustrated because Rabbi Binder never

Rabbi Binder represents faith. Rabbi Binder had faith in the Jewish religion. He could not be swayed from his thinking and he would become angry when Ozzie would challenge what he believed. Rabbi Binder considered the Jews to be “The Chosen People.” When Ozzie was up on the roof he made Rabbi Binder confess his faith. Ozzie asked, “Rabbi Binder, do you believe in God?” Rabbi Binder stated, “yes.” Ozzie went on to say that if Binder believed in God did he believe that he could do anything. Binder hesitated and Ozzie then asked him to admit that he believed God could make a child without intercourse. Rabbi admitted, “He can. God can make a child without intercourse” (10). The Rabbi knew in his heart the truth.

Ozzie recognizes his conflict between doubt and faith when he stared out over the crowd and saw all the people. He saw a “little jagged star like cluster” (6) with the top of the star being Itzie, and in the middle of the star was Rabbi Binder. He began to sort out friends from enemies, participants from spectators and people from places (6). It was then the doubt started to fade away and faith took hold. Before he was unable to control himself, but now “he felt peace and he felt power” (6).

Ozzie resolves his conflict through faith when he brings his mother, the crowd and the Rabbi to their knees. He was finally in control and had everyone’s attention. He finally got everyone to admit that Jesus Christ was truly the Son of God. His mother asked him if he would come down now, but he first made his mother promise to never hit anybody about God, since earlier she had slapped him for questioning the Jewish faith. Ozzie said, “Mamma, d

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