The Bear Dance

The Shpola Zeide had a special love for Jews who had fallen on hard times, even misfits and thieves, so long as their hearts were good. It is told that he once heard of a Jew thrown into a dungeon for failing to pay his rent, his life in grave danger.

In that place, guilt or innocence was decided by the Bear Dance. The half-starved prisoner was dressed in a bear skin, as on Purim, and made to out-dance a Cossack, the finest and most energetic dancer in the area. If the Jew fell first, he was guilty and would be whipped to death. If the Cossack fell first, the Jew went free. No Jew had ever had a chance.

That night the prophet Eliyahu came to the Zeide, taught him to dance, gave him the strength to outlast the Cossack, and taught him a melody that became known as the Shpoler Zeide's Niggun. The next day the Zeide went to the prison, drank mashke (vodka) with the guard until the man fell asleep, and lowered himself into the pit. He exchanged clothes with the prisoner and helped the weakened man climb out and escape. When the nobles' messenger threw the bear skin down into the pit, the Zeide put it on and was pulled up by the rope.

In the great house of the nobles a drinking party was under way. The band played, the Cossack danced, and the bear danced back. Hours passed. Never had a Jew danced so well, and never had the Cossack met his match. The nobles stopped laughing. When the musicians tired and even the Cossack was ready to stop, the old Zeide, his white beard hidden under the skin, began to sing his melody, "Hop Cozzack, Dididiyamam-mamah, hup Cozzack, dididiyum," in which part of the words mean "Hop, Cossack, jump, Cossack." He called out, "Come on, dance, you." The tune grew faster and faster, until neither dancer could make out the song. Then the Cossack's cruel heart gave out and he fell dead. The Zeide had won the Bear Dance, and his fellow Jew went free.