Golem

This week, we’re talking about the golem, a creature found in Jewish folklore that’s built out of inanimate material— often mud or dirt— and brought to life by magic. The golem can be traced all the way back to ancient times, and it even makes an appearance in the Old Testament. We are told that Adam’s first 12 hours of existence are spent as a golem— meaning “body without a soul.” It’s not until god breathes life into him that he becomes a man. This idea of the hollow vessel, not yet animated by the spark of life, births the idea of the golem made famous in folklore. Over time, stories emerged of men creating golems out of raw materials— like dirt, ash, mud, rock, or wood— and bringing these creatures to life to carry out their bidding. This week’s episode features “The Rabbi’s Bogey-Man,” a short story by Gertrude Lana. Find a transcript of this episode here.