One of my favourite legends, from one of my very favourite cities, is the legend of the Golem. It has everything I love - magic, fighting injustice, real historical figures & mystery. As the nights draw longer, I think it’s a good time to have a go at telling it. THREAD 1/
Many of you will know this story, especially if you’re Jewish. I’m not, so please tell me if I’ve missed something, or got something wrong. There’s many, many versions of the tale out there too, so bear with me if it deviates from your favourite retelling. 2/
Prague’s Jewish community, despite edicts and bans, fire and blood, has survived for centuries. It was at its peak, however, towards the end of the 16th century. Jewish merchants & bankers brought an unprecedented level of wealth and learning to the city - it was a powerhouse. /3 
This wasn’t to say that they were necessarily safe, however. This was an age of religious hysteria, of wild rumour and sudden, bloody pogrom. The disgraceful ‘blood libel’, that Jews consumed the blood of Christian children, periodically spread like wildfire. /4
This ‘blood libel’ was also a handy way of obtaining a Jewish neighbour’s riches - the planting of evidence, such as a bloody knife, or convenient body in a Jewish household would invariably lead to a trial - and the accuser, under the law, would obtain their possessions. /5
Eventually, the Jews of Prague approached Rabbi Loew. This community leader, who very much existed, was known for his learning, humanity & knowledge of mystical arts. He was said to be a confidante of the magic obsessed Emperor, Rudolf II, for just this reason. /6
Rabbi Loew thought about it, and proposed the creation of a ‘golem’. This was not his own invention - the Torah and other Jewish writings had spoken of an artificial being created of matter for thousands of years. The Hebrew translates as ‘shapeless mass’. /7
Thus, the legend goes, Rabbi Loew retreated to his home and prepared a golem, using soil and clay as well as other, secret, ingredients. Incantations were made and ‘Emet’ (truth) written on its forehead. A tablet was placed in its mouth. With this, the Golem stirred to life. /8
Rabbi Loew then sent the Golem into the streets of Prague’s Jewish community to keep the peace - especially at night. Some variations of the tale say it was invisible by design, others say that with the use of magic, it resembled a normal man. /9
Stories of the Golem soon spread - a inhumanly strong creature, capable of tearing a man limb from limb was big news. The Jews of Prague began to feel safe, as they had a protector watching over them. However, this was not to last. /10
One day, when Rabbi Loew was at the Old New Synagogue, the Golem stirred to life when it had not been commanded to, lurching from Rabbi Loew’s home, smashing walls, uprooting trees, starting fires - terrifying the inhabitants of the Jewish community. /11
Seeing his creation was out of his control, Rabbi Loew pursued it through the streets of Prague. Chanting incantations, he reached & removed the tablet. He then rubbed the first letter of ‘Emet’, turning ‘truth’ to ‘Met’ or ‘death’. With this, the Golem fell to the ground. /12
Horrified that his creation had seemingly gained a life of its own, Rabbi Loew took the husk of the Golem to the Old New Synagogue, where he had it placed in the attic… Where it is said to lie to this very day, despite war, fire, bombing and horrific atrocities. (Museum Pic) /13
If you visit Prague as a tourist, you can see the rungs and trapdoor that are supposed to lead to the Golem’s resting place. You can also see Rabbi Loew’s grave, where he lies in the historic Old Jewish Cemetery. /14
I hate to say it - it’s a fantastic story, but most of it appears to have been invented in the 19th century. That’s not to say that elements didn’t exist before - Rabbi Loew certainly did, and there were tales of mystical arts being performed to protect the Jews of the city. /15
No matter to the inhabitants of Prague however - the Golem features on everything from t-shirts to ashtrays. You can buy Golem dolls, Golem postcards, Golem pencils - almost anything you can think of. I’ve got a little Golem staring down at me from a shelf at home! /16
I always say that stories gain a life of their own, that fiction, eventually gains a ring of truth. I think the legend of the Golem is a lovely example of this. It’s so intrinsic to our perception and understanding of the city that the two couldn’t be separated. /17
You can learn more about the Golem legend here - including descriptions of some subtle variations in the telling. /18 yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/G…
If you want to follow in the footsteps of Rabbi Loew and the Golem, check out the @PragueEU website. You’ll find more than enough info for a great stay. Not a paid advertisement - I just love the city! /19 prague.eu/en
Thanks for following along again, and if you’ve got any European myths or legends you’d like me to cover, why not let me know? This stuff is really what I live for! /FIN
PS. I want to go back so bad it hurts. Oww.
