Religion is often a major driving force in people’s lives. Today, there are many different religions, ranging from simplistic to extremely complex in structure. Interestingly, many general systems of beliefs are shared across various religious sectors. People of contrasting religious practices often have much more in common than might initially appear. For example, Judaism shares numerous common practices and beliefs with Christianity. To someone raised as a Christian, Judaism may at first seem like a very foreign entity. However, upon discovering the roots and history of the Jewish people, it becomes clear that Christians and Jews share significant cultural influences. Gaining knowledge about these similarities is easier than one might assume. Blurred lines of division not only exist between the Old Testament and the New Testament but are also visible in film and fiction.
The Pawnbroker (1964) exemplifies filmmaking that explores the parallels between Judaism and Christianity. The film follows the postwar life of a Holocaust survivor named Sol Nazeman, who works as a pawnbroker. Sol’s coworker, Jesus Ortiz, reveres him as a mentor. Sol deals daily with constant chatter from customers he has no desire to engage with. He dismisses most individuals as “creatures” unworthy of his time, though he is happy to profit from them. When Sol does engage, even minimally, with others, he is haunted by memories of his horrific experiences during the Holocaust. The audience understands that Sol avoids associating with people because any interaction triggers recollections of his traumatic past. His daily struggle with post-traumatic stress causes him to disengage not only from others but from life itself. Sol’s refusal to create a new life leads him to lose his sense of identity and his faith.
Sol is not, at heart, a pessimistic person. His apparent pessimism is a result of the horrors he has endured. The most prominent trait of his constructed persona is greediness. In one scene, a man profanely accuses Sol of being greedy, using discriminatory remarks. For once, Sol raises his quote for an item being pawned, rejecting the man’s prejudicial correlation between Judaism and greed. This act shows that Sol still retains some pride in his religion. However, in another scene, Sol denies believing in anything except “the speed of light and money.” This contradiction highlights the internal conflict Sol faces as he navigates his postwar existence.
In a conversation with Jesus, Sol discusses the prospect of success. Jesus asks how a man can become wealthy, and Sol claims that wealthy men belong to a “secret society.” He tells Jesus that he can join such a society by “learn[ing] to walk on water.” This comment is the first of many Christian references in the film. Ultimately, these references underscore the film’s central theme: as a Holocaust survivor, Sol avoids reconnecting with his Jewish heritage to escape memories of his persecution. Instead, he adopts a belief that controlling a system of monetary exchange grants him more power than Judaism ever did. Sol desires power over the Christian community he now lives in because Christianity rendered him powerless during the war. His “greed” is, in reality, a delayed retaliation against the religious persecution he endured.
Throughout the film, Sol interacts with Geraldine Fitzgerald, who shows compassion toward him as a Holocaust survivor. In one conversation, Sol says to her, “All I ask and want is peace and quiet.” This statement reflects his longing for the peaceful life he had before the war. If his family’s tranquility had never been disrupted, Sol would not have needed to construct a new life. However, his life was destroyed, and the reconstruction of his identity occurred under the shadow of the Holocaust. Consequently, Sol’s new goal became establishing an existence free from persecution and full of power. This shift in priorities led him to become a pawnbroker, viewing monetary exchange as a form of faith. Money, for Sol, represented something he could control and protect without public judgment.
When Sol learns that his benefactor, Rodriguez, profits largely from criminal activities, including prostitution, he defends the sanctity of his newfound beliefs. Sol refuses to cooperate with Rodriguez, choosing to protect the integrity of money in a way he could not protect his religion during the Holocaust. This refusal signifies Sol’s stand against further persecution. During the war, Sol was too afraid of pain and death to resist. However, with everything he once loved destroyed, Sol feels like “the walking dead.” He seeks death but cannot accept it until he retaliates against his persecution in some way. By taking a stand for money, Sol finds a means to defend his faith. Unexpectedly, another faith intervenes to protect him: a faith in rebirth.
At the end of the film, robbers demand that Sol open a safe full of money. He refuses, urging them to do what they must. As the robbers prepare to kill him, Jesus intervenes and is shot. Jesus crawls out of the pawnshop and dies on the sidewalk. While some might interpret Jesus’ death as a consequence of Sol’s greed, a closer examination reveals that Jesus dies for the sins of those who supported Hitler. In his sacrifice, Jesus inspires a renewed faith in humanity for Sol. The religious imagery in The Pawnbroker illustrates how individuals from different belief systems can profoundly impact one another’s faiths.
Acknowledgments
This essay was originally published in Shiv’im Panim Volume II. I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Amy Kratka, my professor for the Jews in Film and Fiction class at The City College of New York, who encouraged me to submit this paper for publication. Her guidance and belief in my work were instrumental in bringing this piece to life.
I also thank the editors and contributors of Shiv’im Panim for providing a platform to share the 70 faces of the Torah.
This version has been slightly revised and updated for this blog.
Artwork Credit: Jaik Elliott
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