Why many Jews are throwing axes

Published November 29, 2021

In the Tanach, you’ll find numerous references to axes, either as weapons or as tools. That could be one reason why many Jews are throwing axes.

In Judges 9:48, we read: “Abimelech took the axes in his hand and cut down a branch of the trees, lifted it and placed it on his shoulder, and said to the people that were with him, ‘What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I did.’”

In I Chronicles 20:3, we read a reference to axes as weapons: “He took out the people in it and cut them with saws, with iron threshing boards, and with axes and this is what David would do to all the cities of the Children of Ammon.”

The history is there, and in recent years, our connection with the axe has continued for varying reasons.

In Jersey City, NJ in 2019, following the kosher market massacre that left four people, a local rabbi and martial arts expert began hosting axe-throwing “counter-terrorism” classes, and Hasidic Jews signed up quickly.

Numerous groups of Jewish young professionals, and singles groups, are now finding that getting gussied up or staying casual, sipping adult beverages, and throwing sharp axes at predetermined targets can be a fun link to our past.

This week, The Network STL, the Chabad on-campus organization that serves Jewish undergraduate students across the St. Louis area is hosting its own event honoring Hanukkah, and our Macabee ancestors.

“It’s all the rage among the young people,” said Yael Sabah, Director of The Network STL. “We offered our students a number of opportunities such as to take them to Topgolf, throw an awesome Chanukah party, and this is what they chose!”

The event is open to area college students and their peers. “Our primary focus is students at the colleges that don’t have a large community, schools like UMSL, SLU, Webster, and the community colleges,” said Sabah. “We are working to build community for this underserved population — and every day is a new adventure.”

If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to Yael at [email protected].

What is Ax Throwing?

While it may seem odd to throw an axe, in recent years it has become very popular. Similar to darts, axe throwing is played with and against other members of a group. Individuals throw 1.5-pound hatchets at wooden targets marked with a bullseye and score points based on where on the target they stick the axe.

Where to go?

The Network STL event is taking place at Top Notch Axe Throwing St. Louis but they also have locations in Town and Country and St. Charles. And there are several other options available around the St. Louis region. Amp Up Action Park offers Axe throwing plus go-kart racing and other family activities. The Axe House is located in Valley Park.