Alice's Academy
"Will I Remember This?': David Wisniewski's Golem
Shandel Gamer
Shandel Gamer has a master's
degree in English from San Diego State University and is a member
of The National Coalition of Independent Scholars. Also an artist,
she is a member of the La Jolla Art Association.
How is David Wisniewski's Golem different from all other
golems? Golem scholar Shandel
Gamer concludes that Wisniewski's Caldecott Award-winning
version is not just another golem story, but an innovative contribution
to the literature. This thoughtful analysis seemed a particularly
fitting article to post during Passover. - Ed.
The word "golem" first appears as a Biblical reference
in Psalms (139:16) meaning "unformed substance" (New
Oxford Annotated Bible). According to the Talmud, a collection
of third and fourth century Rabbinic writings which constitute
Jewish civil and religious law, the word refers to the unconscious
Adam before God imbues him with a soul, neshamah. The
Talmud also suggests that the ability to create a man is not
the sole province of God and that a righteous man can magically
create a golem or artificial man: "For Rava created a man
and sent him to Rabbi Zera" (Sanhedrin 65b). [1] The techniques for creating a golem
are found in another Jewish text, the Sefer Yezirah [Book of Creation].
The idea of the golem and the belief in golem-making continued
to be discussed and reinterpreted for several hundred years,
and according to Emily D. Bilski and Moshe Idel, in their article,
"The Golem: An Historical Overview," by the twelfth
and thirteenth centuries there was a "virtual explosion
of discussions on the golem" (11). In the fifteenth century,
the formulas for golem-making were translated into Latin. By
the late sixteenth century, the act of golem-making was associated
with two rabbis, Eliahu Ba'al Shem of Chelm (d. 1583) and Judah
Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague (d. 1609). The legends
surrounding these two historical figures are the foundation for
the modern golem tradition.
The first document connecting golem-making with a contemporary
figure was discovered ca. 1630. The manuscript tells the tale
of how R. Eliahu Ba'al Shem of Chelm created a golem by means
of the Sefer Yezirah. In this earliest version of the
legend, the rabbi has to destroy his golem after it grows to
enormous proportions (13). Accounts of the Ba'al Shem's golem
continued to be published by both Jewish and Christian authors
throughout the seventeenth century. Yet, it wasn't until these
legends were collected and recorded by Jakob Grimm in his Journal
for Hermits, published in 1808, that the golem became "a
literary motif as well as a legendary figure" (14).
Forty years after Grimm, the first published stories connecting
the golem with Rabbi Judah Loew appeared in Leopold Weisel's Sippurim (stories). In 1909, Rabbi Loew became the sole
proprietor of the golem legends with the publication of Yudl
Rosenberg's Nifla'ot Maharal im ha-Golem (The Golem
or The Miraculous Deeds of the Rabbi Liva). [2] Rosenberg was also responsible for the inclusion
of the Blood Libel (Lie) [3] stories into the golem mythology. Through
these stories the golem became both a defender and saviour of
the Jewish community. The inclusion of the golem-as-saviour motif
changed the golem legends forever. In 1919, Chayim Bloch published
his work, The Golem: Legends of the Ghetto of Prague.
Most of The Golem is a retelling of stories previously
published by Rosenberg; however, Bloch made two significant contributions
to the development of the legends. Unlike Rosenberg, Bloch's
writing style made the stories more accessible to readers and
his characterization of the golem changed the once docile servant
into one who shows signs of a violent nature. The importance
of both Rosenberg and Bloch to the oeuvre of golem mythology
is immeasurable. Together, these two men created the foundation
upon which later golem stories have been built. According to
Moshe Idel in his book, Golem: Jewish Magical and Mystical
Traditions of the Artificial Anthropoid, "It is the
creative literary genius of Rosenberg and Bloch, together with
the propagative efforts of Bloch, that contributed to the spread
of the Maharal legend in wider audiences" (253).
To appreciate the effect Rosenberg's and Bloch's golem stories
have had on children's literature, it is only necessary to consider
the large number of children's books in which the golem is either
linked to the central theme or is the main character. In the
past twenty-five years alone, the golem story has been retold
by many notable storytellers. Included among the list of writers
who have published golem stories are: Isaac Bashevis Singer,
Elie Wiesel, Mark Podwal, Beverly Brodsky McDermott, Sulamith
Ish-Kishor and, now, David Wisniewski. With so many golem storybooks,
few could have predicted that this once relatively obscure character
would gain international recognition as the subject of the 1997
Caldecott Medal Award.
David Wisniewski's exquisitely crafted children's book, simply
titled Golem (Clarion Books, 1996), is powerfully rendered
with earth-tone, bark-cut paper designs which give a dynamic
edge and strength to the author's version of the golem legend.
In appearance, Golem is similar in both length and size
to another recent golem book, writer and illustrator Mark Podwal's Golem: A Giant Made of Mud (1995). However, Golem is written with a more sophisticated audience in mind and includes
a back page which offers an insightful history of the golem from
the inception of the word "golem" through its present-day
meaning. The effectiveness of Wisniewski's story lies in the
fact that the author balances the simple language of a picture
book with the complex ideas more commonly associated with the
longer, young adult golem stories of I. B. Singer and Elie Wiesel.
Initially, Wisniewski's story is primarily a restating of previous
golem tales, as the author retains the most common and fundamental
elements found in the majority of these legends. Thus, Wisniewski's
storybook includes parts of three traditional stories from the
golem legends: Rabbi Loew's dream-question, the threat of the
Blood Libel and the location and means for the creation of the
golem. With deft precision, the author conveys how the "Blood
Lie" threatened the Jewish community and how in a dream
Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, chief rabbi of Prague, dreamt that
"only the most righteous man, a tzaddik, could create and
control" a golem (n. pag). [4] Wisniewski succinctly relates how Loew
and his two assistants go to the river Vltava (Czech for Moldau)
and shape a figure of clay -- animating it by engraving the word
"emet" (truth) upon its forehead.
The golem appears in the story as a clay figure of gigantic proportions.
Chayim Bloch, in describing the golem, states that "the
three elements, Fire [Aysch], Water [Mayim],
and Air [Ruach] brought it about that the fourth element,
Earth [Aphar], became living" (68). Wisniewski's
depiction aptly captures the power of a creature literally ripped
from the earth through this mystical combination. Although Wisniewski's
golem appears less "Jewish" looking than other authors
or illustrators have portrayed it, this golem is, actually, more
consistent with the original nature of the golem -- a clay man.
The irony is that Wisniewski's golem appears as a primitive,
almost Hulk-like creature, yet is endowed with shades of emotional
subtlety not often seen in previous characterizations.
Like several authors before him, Wisniewski grants his golem
the power of speech. Yet, while many golem legends include the
creature's ability to speak, few golems have been capable of
voicing more than monosyllabic answers to Rabbi Loew's orders.
In most legends the golem is incapable of complex reasoning,
lacking what Gershom Scholem refers to as "neshamah,"
or divine intellect. [5] Wisniewski's golem is different, possessing
both the power of speech and an intelligence capable of questioning
its creator's decision to bring it into being: "'Father,'
his great voice rumbled, 'was this wise to do?'" That this
particular golem is able to voice this simple but profound question
indicates that Wisniewski's work has something more to offer
than a mere retelling of known golem legends.
In truth, the golem's words contain both a questioning of its
creation and a warning of the dangers inherent in the rabbi's
god-like actions. In this way, Wisniewski's golem functions much
like the "figure" that appears in the opening scene
in H. Leivick's play, The Golem. There, the voice of
the "figure," the unformed golem, also warns Rabbi
Loew about the dangers of bringing it into existence: "I
have come to warn you: create me not. Do not dislodge me from
my rest" (226).
Wisniewski returns to established lore by naming his golem "Joseph,"
a name associated with Biblical power, and by having him perform
as the shamash (servant) of the synagogue. Rabbi Loew
also orders the golem to "guard the ghetto at night and
catch those planting false evidence of the Blood Lie." However,
Wisniewski's story again takes a turn away from the standard
storyline when he has the rabbi find his creation standing in
the street at sunrise. When the rabbi questions the golem concerning
this unusual action, the creature responds by expressing its
wonder at the beauty of the scene: "'The sun is rising,'
said Golem. 'The sky changes from black to blue. It is very beautiful.'"
This ability to experience wonder at something as intangible
as beauty is the most meaningful expression of Wisniewski's own
contribution to the evolution of the golem legend. Although previous
golems have had limited intelligence and the power of speech,
Wisniewski's golem steps beyond these parameters in its ability
to question the rabbi's actions and to appreciate the beauty
of nature. Even the golems in stories by I. B. Singer and Elie
Wiesel, written for an older audience, never develop beyond verbalizing
their own personal desires. To be sure, Singer's and Wiesel's
golems articulate their loneliness; however, they never achieve
the level of sophistication necessary to express wonder.
In this way, Wisniewski's golem eclipses previous incarnations.
This golem is not an unquestioning or unfeeling machine, as it
is so often portrayed in legend. Rather, Wisniewski's Joseph
Golem appears even more human than its creator, who responds
to its creation's wonder with cynicism. "Rabbi Loew sighed.
How simple Golem was! The smallest thing--the scent of a rose,
the flight of a pigeon--filled him [the golem] with wonder. 'Joseph!'
he replied. 'Finish your work. Then you can watch the sun rise.'"
This reversal of roles forces the reader to question which of
the two is the automaton and which the human.
Wisniewski again relies upon established themes when he describes
the golem's going out of control and the violence which ensues.
As in previous stories, Wisniewski's golem responds to the threat
to the ghetto by growing larger in stature and killing indiscriminately.
Although this is not a new element, the author does add dimension
to the scene through his powerful cut-paper illustrations. For
example, by using an aerial view of Rabbi Loew and his golem
standing on one side of the gates to the ghetto and the mob of
angry Christians standing on the other side, Wisniewski dynamically
juxtaposes these small figures of the rabbi and the mob against
the gigantic, dominating figure of the golem. Wisniewski's illustration,
more than words, conveys the insignificance of the human element
when compared to the supernatural power of the golem. More than
his text, this scene provides readers with an image of the golem
which is both memorable and frightening.
Wisniewski concludes his story in a traditional manner by mentioning
Rabbi Loew's meeting with the "emperor" to discuss
the golem's continued existence. Even though the author doesn't
mention the emperor by name, we know that this is Rudolf II from
the references to the "Prague Castle" and from Rudolf's
historical promise to "guarantee the safety" of the
Jewish community. Loew promises to destroy his golem, and warns
the Emperor by stating: "It will be done. . . . But if we
are threatened again, Golem will return, stronger than before."
Rabbi Loew returns to the ghetto intent on destroying Joseph
Golem. As often occurs in stories describing the end of the golem,
Wisniewski's Golem seems to know that the time for its destruction
is near. Ironically, but not unintentionally, Wisniewski has
Rabbi Loew find his creation in the cemetery watching the sunset.
He informs it that its "purpose is at an end." After
questioning its creator's decision, the golem looks out upon
the beauty of the setting sun and asks, "Will I remember
this?" [6] When Rabbi Loew responds, "No. . . . You will be clay,"
the golem refuses to obey its creator. Unexpectedly, Loew lashes
out with his staff, erasing the first letter of the word engraved
on the creature's forehead: "At this, emet -- truth
-- became met: Death." As the golem begins to crumble
into clay, it pleads, "Oh, Father! Do not do this to me!
Please! Please let me live! I did all that you asked of me! Life
is so . . . precious . . . to me!" However, its pleas are
in vain. The golem's question and its plea for continued life
are yet another example of the importance of Wisniewski's story
to the continuing evolution of the literary golem. Wisniewski's
golem desires more than mere existence; it wishes to experience
the intangible beauty of life. That Rabbi Loew can so cavalierly
disregard his creation's plea once more communicates to the reader
that it is the golem, and not the rabbi, who is truly human in
this tale.
Golem ends conventionally with Rabbi Loew and his two
assistants removing the remains of the golem to the attic of
the synagogue and covering it with old prayer books. Although
the golem "had not truly been a man," the men do say Kaddish, the prayer for the dead, over it. The act
of reciting the Kaddish is not new to the legends, as
this component has appeared in previous stories. However, the
saying of the Kaddish is often used to demonstrate the
depth of the relationship existing between Rabbi Loew and his
golem. In Wisniewski's story, no such expression of friendship
or love is ever established. Thus, in Golem, the saying
of the prayer is simply a formality, in alignment with other
legends. The story concludes with the customary admonition that
the golem will one day return should the need arise.
The golem legends attached to Judah Loew were once a part of
the Jewish ghetto experience. Now, as the millennium approaches,
the golem is experiencing a renaissance of expression. In addition
to Wisniewski's book, the golem has appeared in another children's
book also published in 1996, The Golem: A Version, by
Barbara Rogasky and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. Moreover,
the golem has recently been the central storyline of the syndicated
television series, The X-Files and Snow in August:
A Novel (1997), by Pete Hamill. Yet, what is unique to Wisniewski's
work is the sense of wonder and nobility the author brings to
this legend and to the golem itself. In Golem, David
Wisniewski captures the essence of the golem legends and makes
them live again for a new generation of readers.
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Notes
1. Gershom Scholem, On the Kabbalah and its Symbolism ( New York: Schocken,
1977) 161,166.
2. The authenticity
of the Nifla'ot has been called into question by various
scholars. Rosenberg stated that he found a 300 year old manuscript
supposedly written by Judah Loew's son-in-law which describes
the miraculous deeds of Rabbi Loew and his golem. Several inaccurate
descriptions of Prague at the time Loew was Chief Rabbi suggest
that the document was most likely penned by Rosenberg himself.
Whether the Nifla'ot is a forgery may never be established;
however, regardless of the authorship, the significance of this
seminal work as a literary document is without question.
3. Blood Libel (Lie)
stories related how Jews were accused of using the blood of Christian
babies in the making of Passover matzoth. Historical
incidents of blood accusations continued to occur into the twentieth
century.
4. Because the
book is not paginated, quotes from Golem lack page references.
5. Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism ( New York: Schocken,
1973 ) 240-241. Scholem is referring to the distinction between
the "three spiritual agencies: Nefesh or life; Ruach or spirit and Neshamah or soul proper." The soul
(neshamah) is often viewed as divine intellect.
6. Interestingly,
the golem's question echoes the HAL 9000 computer's "Will
I dream?" in Peter Hymans' film version of Arthur C. Clarke's 2010: The Year We Made Contact, 1984.
Shandel Gamer
Volume 3, Issue 3, The Looking Glass, 1999
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"Will I Remember This"© Shandel Gamer. Last
updated February 1, 2013.
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