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The Jewish Juggler

By Raphael Harris

During the festival of Succot (Tabernacles) the inhabitants of Jerusalem had the custom of holding a "Simchat Beit HaShoeva," or "The Water Drawing Celebration," referring to the water drawn from a spring on the outskirts of Jerusalem and used in the Temple service. The source of that custom was the scriptural verse, "You shall draw forth water in gladness" (Isaiah 12:3). It was at the celebration that Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel juggled. He used a home-made prop which consisted of a dowel with a large wick tied around one end and fixed with iron tacks. This wick was soaked in oil and set ablaze. This seething inferno then sputtered and shone with great intensity, and he would toss it from hand to hand. his crowning achievement was the ability to juggle eight of these portable bonfires.

This feat was performed in the courtyard of the Temple in front of thousands of spectators who either lived in Jerusalem or had made the pilgrimage to the capital city from other parts of the land to celebrate the festival. In addition to the juggling, there was a feast, musicians and singers. This joyous scenario continued uninterrupted for many generations. Unfortunately, it ended when the Roman conquerors destroyed Jerusalem, razed the Temple and slaughtered the population. Shimon ben Gamliel was cruelly imprisoned and beheaded. Most survivors of this devastation were eventually driven into exile.

The Roman attempt to destroy the Jewish nation failed, however, and the nation survived. The dwindling community in Judea was continuing its festivals even under the yoke of the Roman oppression. The sage Levi bar Sissa (circa 150-220 CE), who was a highly creative thinker, and who assisted in the compilation of the Mishnah (early codification of the Jewish Law, juggled eight knives before the celebrants of the contracted community, including Rabbi Yehuda the Prince, the national leader. It is known that Levi bar Sissa spent his later years in Babylonia and that Shmuel ben Abba was one of his students. Thus it is likely that Levi also taught Shmuel how to juggle.

Even in the Diaspora, the tradition of juggling and joyous celebrations continued. A large community formed in Babylonia and it was there that the next mention of jugglers takes place. The author and teacher Shmuel bar Abba (180-275 CE) was a great Talmudic scholar and was also known for his outstanding expertise in medicine and astronomy. He was eventually promoted to dean of the academy at Nehardea. And he juggled. He managed to perfect an act wherein he manipulated eight cups of wine without spilling a drop! This display was witnessed by a large congregation including the Persian monarch, King Shapur, who expressed his royal approval. His close relationship with King Shapur was to be maintained in the future as well. Shapur (reigned 241-272 CE), of Sassanian descent, defeated the Roman Legions in the battle for Edessa. His portrait appears on a rock relief at Naksh-i-Rustam and on a gem in the Museum of Gotha.

It was also in Babylonia that another distinguished scholar, Abaye (280-339 CE) juggled before his congregation and his teacher Rabbah with eight eggs. Abaye was head of the Academy at Pumbedita and a successful farmer as well. He would study and teach all day, and irrigate his fields at night. He also owned vineyards and manufactured wine. He was described, even by his workers, as "modest and fair-minded."

Back to the land of Israel, where the last mention of juggling in the Talmud takes place, but at a different scenario. It was at a wedding, where the presiding rabbi juggled. This was in order to add to the celebration and to fulfill the precept of "gladdening the bride and groom" which the code of Jewish law describes as a great mitzvah (spiritual act) (10). this was Rav Shmuel be Rav Yitzhak (circa 300-370 CE), who, when taken to his final reward, was described in the eulogy as "unique in his generation." In his juggling, he used three myrtle branches as props (11). When one of his contemporaries, Rav Zeira, saw this, he said: "Isn't this embarrassing! We dance with one and he dances with three." (12)

The tradition of juggling at joyous occasions has continued. The bottle dancers in the wedding scene of the film "Fiddler on the Roof" (1971) are a later example. The story is that of a Jewish family living in a small village in Czarist Russia. The author, Shalom Aleichem (1859-1916) based the story on his own experiences in such a village. In the Hollywood film version, a group of four wedding guests perform a well-choreographed dance step while balancing bottles of wine on their heads without spilling a drop.

The return of Jews to their homeland has sparked a rejuvenation of the Simchat Beit HaShoeva. Today the presence of jugglers at these and other celebrations including weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and Chanukah parties, is highly appreciated. Chanukah is the "Festival of Lights," wherein candles are lit to commemorate the miraculous victory of spiritual light over profane darkness. This victory took the form of the small monotheistic Hebrew army which vanquished the huge idolatrous Greek army. How appropriate to have a fire juggler present when celebrating occasions such as these! The swirling of patters created by the dancing flames is a wonder to behold and inspires all who see it.