Defender Of The Faith

“Getting off the desk, he said ‘Sheldon Grossbart.’ He smiled at the familiarity into which he’d led me.”

When Sergeant Marx meets Grossbart for the first time, the trainee presumes a familiarity with the sergeant that Marx does not appreciate. Grossbart first approaches the sergeant, perches himself on Marx’s desk, and introduces himself by his first name. The sergeant calls him “Sheldon” unthinkingly while instructing him to stand on his feet, participating in the familiarity Grossbart desires without intending to do so. Marx is aware that he has been manipulated and that Grossbart is pleased to have done it.

“Finally, it was time to drink the wine. The chaplain smiled down at them as Grossbart swigged his in one long gulp, Halpern sipped, meditating, and Fishbein faked devotion with an empty cup.”

Marx observes the three young privates at the Friday evening religious services in Chapel No. 3 at Camp Crowder, where he has chosen to attend alone. He observes the trainees and notices that only Halpern appears to be praying in a genuine way; the other two, Grossbart and Fishbein, are perhaps attending the services for reasons other than religious devotion. Marx notes that Fishbein is “faking” devotion because he has just noticed Marx in the congregation and has alerted Grossbart to Marx’s presence. Grossbart does not appear to feel the need to pretend in a similar way. 

“‘Not so much at home,’ said Grossbart, stepping between us, ‘but away from home it gives one a sense of his Jewishness.’” 

While Marx engages the three young privates about their concerns regarding the non-kosher nature of the food they are offered at Camp Crowder, Grossbart speaks of his own inconsistencies regarding Judaism. Grossbart’s explanations regarding his own practices and those of his friends Halpern and Fishbein reflect an agenda on Grossbart’s part that may or may not relate to the unfair treatment he and the other Jewish men are experiencing. He admits that he does not attend religious services at home, but while he is away from home, it gives him a connection to his culture and identity. Although some may believe Grossbart’s words to be sincere, others may believe the vagueness of Grossbart’s explanation lends an air of convenience to his explanation.

“‘Leben!’ My grandmother’s word for me!” 

Marx overhears Grossbart use the term of endearment “leben” with Mickey Halpern, and it triggers a memory of his grandmother, with whom he enjoyed a close relationship. This reminder of someone positive in Marx’s life from his past, before he was a combatant, softens Marx; he perhaps unconsciously and unintentionally transfers some of the affection he feels for his grandmother to Grossbart, which leads him to give Grossbart the benefit of the doubt.

“‘Sir?’ he said. ‘Sir, Marx, here, tells me Jews have a tendency to be pushy. He says he thinks we can settle it right here in the company. Yes, sir, I will call back, sir, as soon as I can.’” 

Captain Barrett interrupts Marx while he is working at his desk a week after he attends the Friday night services with Grossbart and the other two men. Marx clumsily tries to explain Jewish culture to the captain, who is irate because Grossbart’s complaints about the food have reached a congressman through a letter from Grossbart’s parents. This passage reveals Marx’s own ambivalence towards his own Jewish identity as well as the complexity of the situation at hand. For example, although Grossbart is right in observing that Jews are not treated respectfully at Camp Crowder, Marx finds Grossbart’s behavior strange. Additionally, Marx’s explanations of Jewishness to the captain results in the Captain’s use of an anti-Semitic stereotype of Jews, an outcome Marx did not anticipate nor desire.

“‘We’ll give menus, Grossbart. We’ll show training films about the food, so you can identify when we’re trying to poison you.’” 

Captain Barrett mocks Grossbart’s complaints about the food, believing that Grossbart is seeking special treatment that he does not deserve. The captain’s aggressive dismissal of Grossbart’s concerns reflects the captain’s anti-Semitism, as well as his ignorance and intolerance of the Jewish religion. This exchange proves that Grossbart is correct in his observations that Jews are not respected at Camp Crowder. 

“In fact, what he said (and I wrote down the words on a scratch pad so as never to forget), what he said was ‘I guess you’re right, Dad. So many millions of my fellow-Jews gave up their lives to the enemy, the least I can do is live for a while minus a bit of my heritage so as to help end this struggle and regain for all the children of God dignity and humanity.’ That, Congressman, would make any father proud.” 

This passage is an excerpt from the second letter sent to Congressman Franconi by Grossbart’s father. In this letter, Grossbart’s father praises his son for his noble acceptance of the non-kosher food conditions imposed on him at Camp Crowder. When it is revealed that the author of the letters to Congressman Franconi is actually Grossbart himself, these words in particular take on a disingenuously self-serving tone and reveal Grossbart to be a shameless liar and manipulator.

“I stepped on a scale one day, and discovered I had truly become a noncombatant; I had gained seven pounds.” 

Marx’s weight gain represents a type of stability that he was unable to experience while in combat. As a noncombatant working a desk job, Marx does not have to endure neither the physical labor nor the mental anxiety that characterized his earlier experiences as a soldier. He is able to gain weight because his source of food is consistent and nourishing. As well, it is possible that Marx’s appetite has increased now that he is in a position that is less life-threatening. Marx’s weight gain takes place in stark contrast to the starvation taking place in concentration camps in Europe at this time in history.

“‘I thought you’d made up your mind to live with it. To be minus a little bit of heritage.’” 

Marx makes this comment to Grossbart while Grossbart is asking Marx for a pass to go see his aunt for a Passover dinner. Marx reveals with his comment that he has read the second letter to Congressman Franconi sent by Grossbart’s father, and Marx sardonically reminds Grossbart of his resolution to rise above his previous complaints about the food. This moment demonstrates that Marx has some understanding of Grossbart’s opportunistic personality.

“‘Ashamed, that’s what you are,’ he said. ‘So you take it out on the rest of us. They say Hitler himself was half a Jew. Hearing you, I wouldn’t doubt it.’” 

When Marx refuses to give in to Grossbart’s request for a pass, Grossbart compares Marx to Hitler, blaming Marx’s adherence to the rules on what Grossbart assumes is Marx’s internalized negativity due to his identity as a Jewish man. This accusation is particularly poignant as Marx has only recently been in combat in the European theater, where Marx likely saw firsthand the impact of Hitler’s hatred of Jews.

“‘You’re a good Jew, Sergeant. You like to think you have a hard heart, but underneath, you’re a fine, decent man. I mean that.’” 

Grossbart breaks down and cries in front of Marx when Marx refuses to break the rules, but later, Marx observes Grossbart leaving the premises of Camp Crowder without permission. Observing the young man’s determination to see his family and to celebrate Passover, Marx softens and writes Grossbart a pass to go to his aunt’s house for a Passover dinner, inspiring Grossbart to show his appreciation of Marx’s generosity with this quote. Not long after Grossbart compliments Marx as “a good Jew,” Grossbart appears at Marx’s desk with Fishbein and Halpern, taking advantage of Marx by requesting two more special passes for his friends.

“I needed a hug and a kiss, and my mother would moralize. But my grandmother knew mercy overrides justice.” 

This quote explains the origins of Marx’s soft heart. Despite his hardened exterior, Marx possesses a core of compassion and generosity thanks to the influence of his grandmother. Marx is vulnerable to Grossbart’s manipulation because he understands and sympathizes with Grossbart’s plight as a Jewish minority trying to exist in a Gentile majority. The circumstances of Grossbart’s complaints are uniquely poignant as his challenges take place during a war that has been persecuting millions of Jews around the world, a war in which Marx has fought.

“‘Sergeant, the day away did us all a world of good. Fishbein, you should see him, he loves Chinese food.’” 

Grossbart reveals to Marx that he lied about going to his aunt’s house. Instead, Grossbart and the other two young men used the passes to enjoy a day of freedom to which they were not entitled. At this point in the story, Marx sees Grossbart for his true dishonest self, and rage replaces Marx’s natural compassion and generosity. Marx accuses Grossbart of being a disrespectful liar—a schemer and crook who uses people.