01In brief
The Israeli Juggling Convention is an annual multi-day gathering of jugglers and circus-arts practitioners held in Israel during Passover. In 2018, its 25th edition lasted four days and drew about 1,500 professional and amateur jugglers from Israel and abroad; it was described as the world's second-largest juggling convention. Its program included more than 100 workshops and an annual public circus parade. The 2018 parade in Beit She'an was organized in partnership with the Israeli Association for Juggling and Circus Arts.
02Background
The precise origins of the convention are not fully documented in the available sources. A November 1996 article in The American Jewish Times Outlook reported that American-born professional juggler Raphael Harris had recently organized a one-day juggling festival in Jerusalem.[3] Whether that festival was a precursor to or an early edition of the convention that exists today is not established; the article does not use the name "Israeli Juggling Convention" or otherwise connect the two events.[3]
By 2018, the convention was being held for the 25th time.[1] The event takes place during Passover, drawing professional and amateur jugglers from Israel and other countries to train together.[1]
03Course of Events
At the 2018 convention, participants devoted four days to three disciplines identified as central to the juggling world: juggling, acrobalance, and unicycle riding.[1] The program also included more than 100 workshops covering activities such as acrobatics, yoga, Feldenkrais, and African dance.[1]
An annual circus parade is held as part of the convention.[1] In 2018, it was staged in Beit She'an as a gift to the city's residents.[1] The parade began at Beit Hadassim at 16:00 on April 3 and followed Jerusalem Street to Eucalyptus Park. It featured hundreds of jugglers and dancers, costumes, live music, unicycles, stilt walkers, and sword jugglers; the Israeli Association for Juggling and Circus Arts was named as a partner.[2]
04Scale and Attendance
The 2018 convention attracted approximately 1,500 jugglers, including participants from Israel, Finland, Germany, Russia, and Norway.[1] Attendees came from varied professional backgrounds, from high-tech workers to professional jugglers.[1]
The convention was described in 2018 as the world's second-largest juggling convention.[1] Photographer Tal Glick, who documented the convention annually, described the experience as "a parallel world; it's unlike anything happening around it" (translated from Hebrew).[1]
Sources
- 1Mako, The Israeli Juggling Convention: 4 Days of Circus, accessed on September 25, 2026.
- 2Ynet, Passover Events in the North, accessed on September 25, 2026.
- 3Internet Archive, Full text of "The American Jewish times outlook [serial]", accessed on September 25, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is the Israeli Juggling Convention?
The Israeli Juggling Convention is an annual multi-day gathering of jugglers and circus-arts practitioners held in Israel during Passover. By 2018, it had grown into an event described as the world's second-largest juggling convention, drawing about 1,500 professional and amateur jugglers from Israel and abroad and offering more than 100 workshops.
How did the Israeli Juggling Convention get started?
The precise origins of the Israeli Juggling Convention are not fully documented. A November 1996 article in The American Jewish Times Outlook reported that American-born professional juggler Raphael Harris had recently organized a one-day juggling festival in Jerusalem, though whether that festival was a precursor to or an early edition of the convention as it exists today is not established.
What activities and disciplines are featured at the Israeli Juggling Convention?
The Israeli Juggling Convention centers on three disciplines identified as central to the juggling world: juggling, acrobalance, and unicycle riding. Its program also includes more than 100 workshops covering activities such as acrobatics, yoga, Feldenkrais, and African dance, as well as an annual public circus parade.
What happens at the Israeli Juggling Convention's annual circus parade?
The annual circus parade is held as part of the Israeli Juggling Convention and is presented as a gift to the host city's residents. In 2018, the parade took place in Beit She'an, beginning at Beit Hadassim at 16:00 on April 3 and proceeding along Jerusalem Street to Eucalyptus Park. It featured hundreds of jugglers and dancers, costumes, live music, unicycles, stilt walkers, and sword jugglers, and was organized in partnership with the Israeli Association for Juggling and Circus Arts.
Which countries did participants at the 2018 Israeli Juggling Convention come from?
The 2018 Israeli Juggling Convention attracted approximately 1,500 jugglers from a range of countries, including Israel, Finland, Germany, Russia, and Norway. Attendees came from varied professional backgrounds, from high-tech workers to professional jugglers.