-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Katsell [mailto:jerry3@roadrunner.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 2:22 PM
To: 'NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU'
Cc: 'Stanislav A. Shvabrin'
Subject: "Bodkin"

 

 

 

            Dear List,

 

I came upon this in an interview of Paul Magid, member of The Flying Karamzaov Brothers vaudeville troupe (Door Interview: By Tamara Jaffe-Notier, #190,

Nov/Dec 2003):

           

            “There’s a lot of juggling going on in Judaism. There’s a tradition called the “bodkin.” The bodkin is a fool who breaks up a solemn ceremony,

            like a wedding. The bodkin is supposed to make the bride laugh. I’ve been a bodkin a few times. It’s a great job, and juggling is part of that job. There’s

a strong tradition in Judaism of letting go of seriousness and enjoying being the fool sometimes. It’s important to be able to enjoy life. People have somehow mixed up morality with the lack of joy. We should enjoy people and have a fun time, but instead we make all these lines you can’t step across.”

 

Is this a tradition Charles Bodkinovich Kinbote, aka VN, might have known about? What about all them Danish stiletto fun times in PF, from ashen fluff and

waxwing slain and a final trundle of that empty barrow up the lane?

 

Best wishes,

 

Jerry Katsell