The Golem

GOLEM In Jewish folklore, a human being artificially created and endowed with life. A Frankenstein-like creature created to perform tasks for its master Based on the Jewish legend, the famous leader and scholar Rabbi Loew uses his powers to create a giant made of clay, a Golem, to protect his people from persecution in 16th-century Prague. But, in a Frankenstein-like twist, when the tragic clay giant loses control of his anger, the Rabbi must send him back to the red earth from which he was created.

The Great Rabbi Loew asked for three helpers to go with him to the river. On the bank of the river, they found very sticky clay. They cut small tree limbs for the body. They rolled up old rags for a head. Then they put clay on the limbs and rags to give the body shape. Then the Great Rabbi Loew and his three helpers walked around the clay form seven times. They shouted. "Shanti, Shanti, Dahat, Dahat!" The clay body began to grow red like a very hot fire. Then the body became covered with long hair. Then the tips of the fingers and toes grew nails! "Stand up and walk like a person!" shouted Great Rabbi Loew. The Golem stood up and looked straight ahead. The three helpers dressed the Golem in clothes fit for a servant. The Great Rabbi Loew asked the Golem, "Do you hear, see and understand?" The Golem nodded, "yes." Each night Great Rabbi Loew would write down on a piece of paper the work the Golem was supposed to do before morning. He would put the paper in the Golem's mouth and go to bed. Sometimes the Golem cleaned up the Synagogue. Sometimes the Golem cleaned up houses. The Golem also helped keep law and order at night, so the people were not afraid. Great Rabbi Loew decided that the Golem should be more like real people. One day he showed the Golem how to eat bread. The Golem thought everything could be eaten. One day he ate a brick. But after some time the Golem got crazy and started to kill people so the great Rabbi Loew had to send the Golem back to the red earth.