Religious themes in The Fixer

Yakov Bok, the eponymous fixer in Bernard Malamud's The Fixer, is a non-practicing Jew who's discovered the works of Spinoza - works that posit, as I understand it from Malamud's summaries in this novel, a god who is pure idea and not an active force in the universe - which seems just a step away from agnosticism or atheism. Like many Jews, Yakov finds that how he defines himself is immaterial in a world that is hostile to Jews and to Judaism - he's imprisoned on a fake charge of the ritual killing of a Russian boy, and the world at large defines him as a Jew, whatever his own thoughts and beliefs. This of course, as Malamud knew, is the theme of much Holocaust literature and memoirs. Nearing the end of this harrowing novel about Yakov's imprisonment, torment, and punishment, religious faith begins to play an explicit role in the novel. Yakov receives a copy of the New Testament; starved for any reading material, he devours the Gospels and memorizes long passages, which he recites - bringing some balm to his soul and actually bonding him a little bit to his captors. But he's left with the puzzle: if you are Christian, how can you torment an innocent man? A priest comes to visit him, but will not champion his cause. Eventually, Y gives up the New Testament. a guard throws him a soiled and torn copy of the Old Testament, which he begins to read and to memorize - but what help does the fierce OT God bring? Much talk of the suffering and punishment those who turn from God will feel - but that is of no consolation to the dying Yakov. Not sure how Malamud will work out these strands - is this an anti-religious book, or does it demonstrate the woes of those who turn from God, whichever "god" that may be? No doubt it's a historical and political novel as well; one great scene is Yakov's temporary release to go under guard to the prosecuting attorney - his elation at seeing the outside world, the fear in his heart when he's recognized on the trolley (other Jewish passengers silently disembark - more symbolism?); the prosecutor says he'll let Y off easy if he confesses that he acted on instructions from Jewish leaders. He's both moral enough and smart enough not to take this deal - knowing that they will never keep their promise to let him off and that it would foment massive anti-Semitism and riots (he doesn't articulate this thought, but it's obvious to us). All to prop up the dying regime of the Tsar (Nicholas II): enough to make anyone a Red, or at  least a White, Russian.