Gelb’s magic is in sync with Judaism

TALI FEINBERG

He will be performing his show Blurred Lines at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this year.

The young director has an important role to fill at a religious Jewish day school. “I joined Cape Town Torah High at its inception in 2013 as a tutor and I have grown with the school since,” he explains.  “I moved away from teaching at the beginning of 2016 and took on a more managerial position, helping the principals and Board run the school.”

His interest in magic began as a child. “Like most stories about magicians, mine is no different. I saw my first magician at St Elmo’s (a Cape Town restaurant) when I was a child and was amazed with what magical things appeared out of my ear…”

At birthdays he got some basic magician paraphernalia and books, and the rest is history: he was hooked. “I tried going to the College of Magic when I was in Middle School but as it was on Shabbos and at that time I had just decided to be more observant, I resolved to use whatever resources I had, especially books.

“I remember it like it was yesterday: I landed up in the arts section of the library for a school project and found the magic and illusion section. I found a book on card magic and ran straight to the librarian and took the book out. I learned some tricks back then that I perform in the corporate environment to this very day!”

As an observant Jew, the combination of magic and Torah Judaism may seem unusual, but Gelb says they are actually in sync. “I believe that with today’s technology and access to the Internet, it would be fairly concerning if someone believed that real magic existed.

“I make an effort telling anyone who accuses me of performing real magic, that I use ‘sleight of hand’ only. I don’t have special powers. I believe those who preach that they have real magical powers are unethical and I don’t have patience for them.

“My job is not to trick and fool you, no matter what you watch on TV. I’m here to give you the gift of a moment that you can’t get anywhere else. I am here to entertain, to make you smile and be in a state of amazement.

“It’s not often that one has the opportunity to forget about his or her troubles for a few minutes and regress to a childlike state of absolute astonishment. That’s what I do and that is 100 per cent in line with my Judaism.

“In addition, when I’m doing a show on Shabbos or Yom Tov, I make a point to explain to people why I can or can’t do a certain trick because of keeping the laws of the festival or Shabbos.”

When parents of learners at the school find out that the executive director is a “deception artist” and magician, they get excited. “It’s not often you find someone with such a rare skill. Some of the school’s parents believe it’s a wonderful lesson to teach others that life is multi-dimensional, that working in an office all day doesn’t mean that that’s all there is or all you are,” says Gelb.

“Using magic in any setting, but specifically a school setting, is an excellent tool to break down barriers between learners, cheering them up and providing a level of comfort and friendliness for the children and the parent body. Parents appreciate knowing that there is someone there who can give their children some magic to lift their spirits,” he explains.

“Parents know they can rely on me to communicate to them anything related to the school. It’s my job and I take pride in it and respect the responsibility. That’s the one side of me.

“The other side is that parents know that because of my magical talents I am able to put smiles on theirs and their children’s faces and seeing me in this light makes me easier to relate to.”

There is a wide variety of magic that can be performed, and Gelb focuses on close-up and stage/parlour magic. “In close-up magic, there is no room for error with my sleight of hand and I have to make sure that the routines I perform have been practised to the point where I can do the moves in my sleep! My wife complains that I try to cut her like a pack of cards when I’m sleeping!”

He does parlour magic for corporate functions and a variety of events.

For those interested in magic as a hobby, “there are, thankfully, plenty of resources around – both online and offline”, says Gelb. “Magic is a great tool to gain self-confidence and self-esteem. If you are prepared to put the effort in, it will certainly benefit you and those around you.”

Gelb will be performing for the first time at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival this year. “I am excited to share my one-man show that I performed at the Cape Town Fringe Festival in 2016 entitled Blurred Lines.

It’s a mind-bending show that looks at the fine line between our reality and imagination and how we are often too comfortable living in the reality and too scared to venture into the unknown. I will take patrons on a journey where those lines are blurred and are then woven together, encouraging patrons to blur their own lines of reality and imagination. It’s a show full of wonder and laughs.”

He can also be found performing every second Sunday at a restaurant in Stellenbosch. He will also be performing at the Cape Town Club in Gardens on June 12 and on July 17