Philip Roth "Defender of the Faith"

If one were trying to explore the difficulties a Jew might face trying not to lose their religion or identity the United State' s military, boot camp, and especially war-time boot camp is a great place for that exploration.  In the military all races, religions, and beliefs are all forced to co-exist in extremely difficult situations.  In Philip Roth's "Defender of the Faith" three "green" Jewish privates are forced to undergo the pressure of boot camp and forced to break rules of their religion (eating non-kosher foods).  I served five years in the military, meeting thousands of soldiers but only one time did I meet a practicing Jewish soldier.  I will not explore why but it is hard to explain.  Philip Roth liked to write about American culture and the problem of Jews losing their "Jewishness."  From my own experience the Army is a great place to find God, but it is also a great place to lose Him.  In the military you are nothing more than an instrument to be shot at and an instrument to return fire, that is it, there is nothing more.  Sheldon Grossbart was a lousy rat of a soldier, looking out for himself while disregarding his fellow soldiers.  But at least Grossbart was trying to keep himself intact.  Sargeant Marx, a non-practising Jew, and a war hardened infantryman lost himself, but managed to get a little back by helping Grossbart and his fellow Jews experience a little piece of Judiasm before war.  Grossbart also took away Marx's faith by being a rat.  I feel that Jews belief they hold no home on this planet so why should they die for a piece of land whose inhabitants don't respect them.