The Golem
What I have learnt so far.
A Golem is a creature created from the ground by man and given the form of man and given life. However it does not have the intellect of man and obeys its creators orders.
In the Jewish legend the ability to create and give life comes from a deep understanding of the Cabala, an important form of Jewish mysticism based on the writings of The Book of Splendor, (Sefer ha- zohar) written in Spain between 1280 and 1286 by the Cabalist Moses de Leon, although attributed to the 2nd-century rabbi Simeon bar Yohai.
By using the knowledge gained from the study of this book it was possible for a few rabbi to give life to effigies by the use of mystical words. The golem may look like a man, but it lacks personality and intellect and is unable to talk. It will obey its maker and only it maker can take away its life returning it to the ground from whence it came.
The most famous golem was created by Rabbi Yehuda Leow the Maharal of Prague. It is around the legend of this golem that the book by Gustaf Meyrink is based.
The Golem legend in Clay by David Almond
The golem legend plays a major role in this book.
In Clay the character Stephen Rose has a gift of being able to model clay into life like figures. He is a disturbed adolescent who doesn't seem to be comfortable among his peers. He has recently been expelled from the local Catholic seminary and has come to live with his Aunt who is known to the local kids by the name of Crazy Mary. His ancestors were show people who specialized in hypnotism. The local Priest encourages David and Geordie (who are altar boys) to befriend Stephen.
Stephen confides in David that he can give life to his clay models and persuades David to help him make a life size clay figure that they will give life to and who will protect the boys from the local bully.
David’s part is to take some if the consecrated bread and wine and put it in a locket which will be embedded into the clay figure.
The golem created that is given the name of Clay, has two masters Stephen and David.
What I have learnt so far.
A Golem is a creature created from the ground by man and given the form of man and given life. However it does not have the intellect of man and obeys its creators orders.
In the Jewish legend the ability to create and give life comes from a deep understanding of the Cabala, an important form of Jewish mysticism based on the writings of The Book of Splendor, (Sefer ha- zohar) written in Spain between 1280 and 1286 by the Cabalist Moses de Leon, although attributed to the 2nd-century rabbi Simeon bar Yohai.
By using the knowledge gained from the study of this book it was possible for a few rabbi to give life to effigies by the use of mystical words. The golem may look like a man, but it lacks personality and intellect and is unable to talk. It will obey its maker and only it maker can take away its life returning it to the ground from whence it came.
The most famous golem was created by Rabbi Yehuda Leow the Maharal of Prague. It is around the legend of this golem that the book by Gustaf Meyrink is based.
The Golem legend in Clay by David Almond
The golem legend plays a major role in this book.
In Clay the character Stephen Rose has a gift of being able to model clay into life like figures. He is a disturbed adolescent who doesn't seem to be comfortable among his peers. He has recently been expelled from the local Catholic seminary and has come to live with his Aunt who is known to the local kids by the name of Crazy Mary. His ancestors were show people who specialized in hypnotism. The local Priest encourages David and Geordie (who are altar boys) to befriend Stephen.
Stephen confides in David that he can give life to his clay models and persuades David to help him make a life size clay figure that they will give life to and who will protect the boys from the local bully.
David’s part is to take some if the consecrated bread and wine and put it in a locket which will be embedded into the clay figure.
The golem created that is given the name of Clay, has two masters Stephen and David.
posted by Cath at 8:38 pm
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