GOLEM

I found this folktale picturebook in the 398.2 JNF section @ the Manor Branch Library in San Leandro, CA.
GOLEM

• Story and Pictures by David Wisniewski (1953-2002) "no author website"
• medium: Color-Aid, Coral, and Bark cut papers
• 1996
• New York, NY
• Clarion books
• ISBN: 0-395-72618-2
• Caldecott Medal recipient, 1997

Annotation:  To fight against Jewish persecution, a rabbi creates a clay figure that comes to life to protect his people with violent and philosophical results.  Once come to life, it is not so easy to take away life from Golem.

Personal thoughts:  Set in Prague in 1580, Golem establishes an already tense backdrop of religious conflict.  The Jews of Prague are being set up as murderers of Christian children.  A "Blood Lie" has been started, rumors of Jews mixing the blood of Christian children with flour and water of matzoh.  Throngs of angry Christians are storming the gates of the Jewish ghetto in a fervor.  In response, Judah Loew, chief rabbi of Prague has a vision of a glowing hand spelling out the word: GOLEM.  Rabbi Loew is to make a creature out of clay that will protect the Jews of Prague against their enemies.  He creates the creature and marks his forehead with the word: emet or Truth.  The golem, called Joseph, is put to work monitoring the ghetto and ridding it of any intruders meaning the Jews harm.  But when safety and peace are attained, Joseph does not accept his fate, to return back to the earth as lifeless clay. 

Golem is an amazing tale that is the root of many of our traditional stories, most noteably, Frankenstein.  Wisniewski's artwork of cut paper add a beautiful 3D like element with dark and scary images.  The book includes an endnote discussing the history of the Golem tale and considers its contribution to traditional Jewish stories, like massive physical strength defeating overwhelming persecution.

The story resonates with a tragic and ambilvalent ending and the story's underlying relationship to magic and religion facinates the reader.