Actor, Pilot, Escape Artist, Magician

Harry Houdini (1874-1926) Born Erik Weisz in Hungary, son of Rabbi Mayer We

Erik Weisz, aka Harry Houdini

isz and the 4th of 7 children. By age 9, he was a succesful trapeze artist. As a magician, he took the stage name “Houdini” after his mentor Robert-Houdin. He would go on to became the greatest escape artist in history. He was also an actor, starring in multiple films, as well as a special effects consultant in others. He was one of the first pilots in the world – buying his own plane in 1909 (the first manned flight had been in 1903). It is thought he was accidentally killed by a McGill University student in Montreal. He once said: “My brain is the key that sets my mind free.”

Words of the Week

He who fulfills one mitzvah, acquires for himself one angel-advocate; he who commits one transgression, acquires against himself one angel-accuser
– Pirkei Avot 4:11