Teach Your Children to Swim

I love swimming.

Recently I discovered that the first medalist in Olympic swimming was Alfred Hajos-Guttmann.  And who was Hajos-Guttman?  A Hungarian Jew.  He earned two gold medals at the 1896 games in Athens.  He won the 100-meter and 1200-meter Freestyle.  His time for the 100-meter was 1:22.2.  (It gives me some satisfaction that I could have medaled in the 19th century!)

Of course, Hajos-Guttman did not swim in a 50-meter state of the art pool but instead in the cool waters of the Mediterranean in which there were the occasional 12-foot swells.  There is a big difference between swimming in a pool and an ocean!  Even more noteworthy Hajos-Guttman also earned titles in Hungary’s national competitions in running, hurdles, discus and soccer.  Later he coached Hungary’s national soccer team. 

And when he returned to the 1924 Olympics, he competed not in sports but the arts.  Apparently back then it was not just about sports, and sportsmanship, but other disciplines.  Hajos-Guttman earned top honors in architecture. 

And why did Hajos-Guttman take up swimming?  At the age of thirteen his father drowned in the Danube.  It was not so much about the medals but instead about saving life.  In fact, he changed his name to Hajos, which means sailor in Hungarian.

The Talmud teaches that parents are obligated to teach their children many things.  Parents are required to teach their children Torah and a craft.  Why the Jewish tradition requires parents to teach Torah is expected and obvious.  But why a craft?  The rabbis answer their own question and say that if parents don’t teach them a craft it is likened to teaching them to steal.

And then some add, parents must teach their children to swim.  Why?  Because their lives might depend on it. (Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 56b) And I would add, to teach them to ride a bike.  Why?  Because their enjoyment might depend on it.  And one day, getting from one place to another might depend on it.

The Torah reminds us: “And you shall teach them to your children. (Deuteronomy 6)

It all begins with swimming—and maybe riding a bike.