We're presently in Elul, the last month of the Jewish calendar. 18 Elul, or "Khay Elul" is an interesting date in the annual calendar, and falls this year on Saturday, 21 September, coinciding with the autumnal equinox. Among other significant events marked on this date, it's the yortsayt (death anniversary) (1609) of the Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehudah Loewe, known to history as the creator of the fabled Golem of Prague.
The golem has inspired countless artists over the centuries. All golems are created from mud and clay, given "life" by a word or symbol, and have that "life" taken away when someone removes a letter from the word or reclaims the symbol. In the meantime, they are an automaton, and must obey the whims of their creator, though they often break free, tending to cause damage.
The symbolism speaks for itself.
One very nice example of art drawn from this legend is "Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam", a 1920 silent film (and this relates to one of the events below!) made in Berlin by Paul Wegener. It's not perfect, or without its stereotypes, but it is a beautiful example of German Expressionism, and worth an hour and a half of your time some evening. Or there's our old friends from NYC, Golem, singing about Odessa. (And at least two metal bands of the same name.) There are novels, operas, visual artworks, you name it, all using the idea of golems and stories about them as an impulse.
It's also worth noting that "khay", our 18th of the month, also means "life". For this date to be wrapped up in the story of the Golem of Prague, and for it to come this year on the autumnal equinox, is worth a bit of reflection. Life, death, autonomy, the end of the year, the changing of the seasons.... I'll leave the rest to you.
