In the year of 1580, the beautiful city of Prague bore
witness to violent acts against the Jews, who were forced to live in the
restricted area of ghetto. The chief rabbi of Prague, Judah Loew ben Bezalel,
sensed the building trouble against his people. At his study, while he prayed
vigorously for freedom of the Jews, his heavy head rested on his praying hands
and fell into slumber. He dreamed of a man made of clay and of untold power.
The following day at the crack of dawn, Rabbi Lowe
sent for his son-in-law and his best student. Upon their arrival, he announced,
“I need your help in creating Golem.”
When darkness covered the city, the three men left
the ghetto through a secret passage to the River Vlatva. Both young men
shoveled the clay from the muddy banks of the river unto a one big pile.
The rabbi felt the clay with his hands and chanted
his prayers softly. His hands moved around the shapeless mass, shaping it. Then
he rose and faced a lifeless figure laying on the riverbank.
He raised his arms and voice slightly, chanting
spells from Cabala. The wind whirled around the clay figure. A thunder struck
the ground, putting life into the lifeless figure. Two young men gripped each
other in fear.
After the shaking ground calmed, the rabbi touched
the creature’s forehead with the tips of his fingers and spoke, “Golem. Awake.”
And he did.
“Father, why do you need me?” spoke Golem.
“To protect my people,” answered the rabbi. “Follow
us. We need to return to the ghetto before daylight catches with us.”
Once at the attic, the rabbi explained more, “I need
you to guard the ghetto at night and report those who wish harm upon us. By
day, you will help at the synagogue.”
It wasn’t long before a riot raised and reached the
gates of the Jewish ghetto. Golem stood protecting the gates, but with every
push, the hinges screeched and slowly gave way to the rioting crowds.
Golem with his big strong hands swept the attackers
to the right and left, sending them up in the air and letting them crash to the
ground. The mob seeing the dead and wounded fled in panic.
The Emperor upon hearing horrible news, he summoned
the rabbi to Prague Castle and demanded answers, “What is your plan?” The
emperor roared like a lion, “Are you planning on destroying the whole city?”
“I have no intention of destroying the city,” calmly
answered the rabbi. “We only wish to live within the city in peace and not to
be oppressed.”
“And how are you planning to achieve it with the monster
your created?” Emperor’s voice continued to rumble along the castle’s walls.
“As soon as the Jews are safe, Golem will no longer
have its purpose here and will be turned back to its original state of clay,”
assured the rabbi.
With a calmer voice the emperor declared, “I
guarantee the safety of your people.”
“Tonight Golem will be turned into clay. That’s my
promise,” responded the rabbi with a bow of his head and left the castle.
At night, the rabbi chanted the Cabala words over
the sleeping body of Golem. Slowly the body was losing its shape. The face and
hands were disappearing in a pile of clay. There was no more Golem, except a
pile of clay.
The two young men helped the rabbi again. This time
to wheel the carts of clay back to riverbanks.
This was the only time, when the city of Prague
witnessed the creature of Golem. Perhaps, if there is need, he may appear
again.
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