Golem is the Hebrew word for an
artificial human being, an android, automaton, usually in human form
into which life was breathed by the use of divine names.
Gershom Scholem in Encyclopedia Judaica":
"The golem is a creature, particularly a
human being, made in an artificial way by virtue of a magic act, through
the use of holy names.
The idea that is is possible to create
living beings in this manner is widespread in the magic of many people.
Especially well known are the idols and images to which ancients claimed
to have given the power of speech.
Among the Greeks and the Arabs these
activities are sometimes connected with astrological speculations
related to the possibility of "drawing the spirit of the stars" to lower
beings.
The development of the idea of the golem
in Judaism, however, is remote from astrology; it is connected, rather,
with the magical exegesis of the 'Sefer Yezirah' [Book of Creation] and
with the ideas of the creative power of speech and of letters."
(Kabablah, p. 351, Ency. Judaica 1971, vol. 7, col. 753)(Golem,
16)
(image right) Instructions in Hebrew on how to create a golem from Rabbi Eleazar of Wormes (Worms).
Scholem says for the Ashkenazi Hasidim:
"The study of the book [of Yezirah] was
considered successful when the mystic attained the vision of the golem,
which was connected with a specific ritual of remarkably ecstaic
character." ("Kabbalah," p. 40, Scholem)
When the ritual, performed with the correct
knowledge of the symbols in the book, it could produce a living,
breathing creature, according to many rabbis and philosophers throughout
human history.
Was the golem human? According to the
rabbis, this creature had the same life force of any animal or living
being, but it did not posses the same level of intelligence as humans.
Stories about the golem's life describe the creature being dumb, unable
to speak, but capable of understanding basic instructions. There are
many discussions among the rabbis over the centuries about the
attributes of this man made creature.
Along with the discussions are buried the
basic techniques to infuse life into a lifeless body. Many of the the
practices have been described in English translations usually based on
the golem of Prague. But earlier discussions make more distinct
connections being the rituals to make a golem come to live and the
"Sefer Yetzirah."
The golem is neither human nor is it not
human. It may possess a human soul reincarnated (gilgul) by force
through a ritual infuse a soul into a body. It could be the should of an
animal or plant, recycled into a clay mold for awhile.
Moshe Idel published an excellent book, now
out of print, about the golem. It is the most complete English
discussion from Hebrew sources over the centuries. When the book
("Golem: Jewish Magical and Mystical Traditions On The Artificial
Anthropoid") is available in print, the link to purchase it will be
included here. It is one of the missing pieces of the puzzle.
The creation of a golem is often compared
to the union of the male and female to create a human being. But instead
of using sperm and eggs, the Kabbalaist substitutes the appropriate
universal energies to create a similar effect.
When the golem comes to life, is it really a
figment of the conjurer's imagination or is it a real, breathing
entity? The debate continues. Keep checking back for more.
Copyright by Robert Zucker 2006
No part may be copied without permission from author
Kabbalah Shoppe- Books & Items
Books on the Golem
Kabbalah and Astral Projection Books by Author Robert E. Zucker
Download free Sample PDFs of two books recently published. Purchase full copies on Amazon.com.
Kabbalah's Secret Circles
reveals the hundreds of legends and complete history of the Kabbalah,
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Read selections from the new book by author Robert E. Zucker, "Kabbalah's Secret Circles," examines the practices, literature and history of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah and the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Formation).
Discover
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of famous Rabbi’s and authors throughout history.
Follow
a historical time line of Judaic mysticism and understand some of the
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described in the ancient book on Jewish mysticism– the Sepher
Yetzirah.
For more information on this Kabbalah book, contact author Robert Zucker.
By Aryeh Kaplan
This
is the most authoritative text on the study of the "Sefer Yetzirah" or
Book of Formantion (Book of Creation) available. Kaplan's explanations
are easy to understand and make sense. A must have manual for anyone
interested in Kabbal
Author: Gershom Scholem
This
book helped reinvigorate 20th-century Jewish studies with an awareness
of the Kabbala, after the 19th century's more astringent scholarly
emphasis on law and philosophy. Covers a discussion of the golem.
by Gustav Meyrink (Author), Hugo Steiner-Prag (Author), Madge Pemberton (Author)
Most famous
supernatural novel in modern European literature, set in Ghetto of Old
Prague around 1890. A compelling story of mystical experiences, strange
transformations, profound terror. 13 black-and-white illustrations.
Text: English, German (translation). Paperback: 224 pages. Publisher:
Dover Publications (December 1, 1985)
By Gershon Winkler
Experience one
of the most startling and controversial metaphysical Jewish events of
all time: the creation of a golem, a man crafted out of clay by the
exalted Rabbi Yehudah Loevy ben Bezalel (the Maharal) of Prague to
protect sixteenth-century Jews from persecution. The author skillfully
captures the essence of the golem and examines its aftermath
objectively. Features a dramatized adaptation of the documented
adventures of the golem and includes a comprehensive overview of Jewish
mysticism, black magic, demonology, miracles and science, plus a summary
of other golems in Jewish history. Read it for pleasure as well as
perspective. Paperback: 361 pages. Publisher: Judaica Pr (June 1,
1980). Language: English
These
pages are excerpts from a new book on Kabbalah, by Robert Zucker,
with instructions to create a golem using a Kabbalah Wheel. Read more
pages and download a free PDF sample of "Kabbalah's Secret Circles."
© 2007-2017 Robert Zucker. Entertainment Magazine. EMOL.org. All rights reserved.
in Theory and Practice"
