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THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Nevertheless, for a time at least, the rage for Athletics spread even to the priests, who, Hamburger says ("R. B.T." ii. 436, 1220), neglected spiritual duties to take part in gymnastics. Indeed, so far did the contestants go that it is said they wore the broadbrimmed petasus of Hermes, the pagan god of gymnastic science, as an emblem of their prowess. Much of the strength of the Hasmonean rebellion has been attributed to the bitter opposition which the introduction of the gymnasium in Jerusalem brought about. "Pugilism," says Hamburger (i.e.), " has perhaps never exercised a greater influence in the development of spiritual life than it did at Jerusalem. " The Hasmonean rising wiped out every vestige of Hellenism, but scarcely a century passed before the influence of the Romans was felt; instead, however, of the gymnasium, the circus was introduced, and sioii.

with it the gladiatorial contests, which no doubt offended the religious feelings of the Jews, for the Rabbis prohibited attendance at both circus and theater (Targ. Yer. Deut. xxviii. 19; Pesik., ed. Buber, 119S; Lam. R. 36c 'Ab. Zarah 18b). Indeed, a rabbi of the first century decreed that any one who attended a circus was a murderer (Yer. 'Ab. Zarah 40a). Herod the Great was responsible for the reintroduction of Athletics to Jewish life " for, in the first place, he appointed solemn games to be celebrated every fifth year in honor of Caesar, and built a theater at Jerusalem, as also a very great amphitheater in the plain" (Josephus, "Ant." xv. 8, § 1). These were both costly works, erected by Herod for the purpose of securing the good-will of Emperor Augustus (7 B.C. ) but even though Herod strove to





dazzle the

Jews by the magnificence

of the sports,

and though he appointed every fifth year for the celebration of Olympic games, yet these were " looked on by the sober Jews as heathenish sports, and tending not only to corrupt the manners of the Jewish nation, and to bring them Herod. Reintro- in love with paganish idolatry and paganish conduct of life, but to the duces Olympic dissolution of the law of Moses, and accordingly were greatly and justly Games. condemned by them " (Josephus, ib. But this was not the universal opinion. note).

who

considered Athletics as a part of "Greek wisdom," learned to appreciate the value of gymnastic exercises for the physical development of Jewish youth and among them was Gamaliel II. the patriarch, who favored the introduction of the gymnasium as a means of preparing the Jews for their intercourse with the Roman rulers (Sotah 49S Notwithstanding the fact that some B. K. 83a). looked on Athletics with favor, and that amphithea-

Some

rabbis,



ters

had been

built at Jericho, Tiberias,

and Tari-

Roman wars

the sports became repugnant to the Jews, and ultimately they were no longer followed. Resh Lakish was noted however for his gladiatorial skill and strength and instances of Jews hiring themselves to the masters of the games for exhibition were not rare (see Jaschese, shortly after the



Dt6)heavy weights was practised at an early date by the Jews, as is attested by Jerome " in the Mid(cited by Israel Abrahams, Jewish Life trow, "Dict."».

The

v.

lifting of

Athletes

die Ages," p. 375), who relates that when visiting Judean towns in the fourth century he saw " large, heavy stones which Jewish boys and youths handled and held aloft in the air to train their muscular strength.

That archery was practised

is

seen from the record

by Josephus ("B.

of Herod's achievements cited

J."

They saw him throw the javelin directly forward, and shoot the arrow upon the mark. " Abrahams (I.e.) says " The Palestinian Jews were wont to

i.

21, § 13)



"



practise archery, probably as a

and he Vieiile

W.

cites in a note

form of recreation

Bacher's

article,

Contro verse au SujetdetntDD (Lam.


 * ii.

"

"TJne 12),"

"Revue Etudes

Juives," xxvi. 63-68. Here Bacher challenges the interpretation of X1DD, which he claims should be translated as " arrow " and not as "javelin," which view is maintained in the Authorized Version ("and set me as a mark for the arrow "), and does not admit the correctness of in

Levy's ("Neuhebr. WOrterb." " I

was

set there as a

i.

130ft)

interpretation,

buckler to be pierced by the

javelin."

Juggling also was known among the Jews and practised by the Rabbis for of Simon ben Gamaliel, who perished at the destruction of the Temple by Titus in 70, it is said that on the occasion of one of the Tabernacle feasts he astonished those present by Rabbi Judah I. j uggling with eight burning torches. witnessed a similar feat with eight knives, which was performed by Levi b. Sisai. Samuel, the physician;

astronomer, exhibited his dexterity in this direction before Sapor with eight goblets; and Abaye was able to juggle with four eggs (Tosef. ,Suk. iv. 2; Yer. Suk. v. 55c; Tosef., Suk. iv. 4; Bab. Suk. 53a).

That the Jews were strong swimmers is proved by Josephus, who relates that in his twenty-sixth year " came to Rome, though it were through a great number of hazards by sea; for, as our ship was drowned in the Adriatic sea, we that were in it, be-

he

ing about six hundred in number, swam for,our lives all the night," and "I and some others, eighty in all," were taken aboard a ship of Cyrene (Josephus, "Vita," § 3). According to some tannaim, it is the duty of every father to teach his son to swim (Kid. the amora Simeon ben Lakish was a noted 29«)

swimmer

(B. M. 84a). Although permitted

arms and to hold imduring the fourth century, the Jews were prohibited from doing so, and, in fact, were excluded from all military service in 418. portant military

to bear

offices

Under the Assize of Arms issued in England by Henry II. in 1181, by which every freeman was compelled to serve in defense of the realm, Jews were prohibited from keeping with them mail or hauberk, and were ordered either to sell them or to give them (Stubbs, "Select Charters," pp. 155-157; see "Jews of Angevin England," p. 75). With the notable exceptions of the cities of Worms and Prague, where the Jews were efficient in the

away

also Jacobs,

bearing of arms, these restrictions seem to have been put upon them wherever they dwelt; so that possibly such restrictions were chiefly responsible for the neglect of hunting, in which weapons were needed.

Abrahams quotes Melr hunting.

of

Rothenburg as opposed to "he who hunts game

Me'ir declared that