Golem Of Prague Attic
Tucked away in the snowy cobblestone streets of prague s jewish quarter stands a synagogue that is as old and significant as it is beautiful.
Golem of prague attic. The golem of prague. Nevertheless his fame is just about the only thing that is clear about him. Still golem does truly belong to prague. When the attic was renovated in 1883 no evidence of the golem was found.
In the most common version of the legend the creation of the golem is tied to rabbi judah loew ben bezalel the maharal of prague. It is said that the body of golem created by rabbi judah loew ben bezalel lies in the attic where the genizah of prague s community is kept. When the attic was renovated in 1883 no evidence of the golem was found. Some versions of the tale state that the golem was stolen from the genizah and entombed in a graveyard in prague s žižkov district where the žižkov television tower now stands.
Rabbi loew a real historical figure in the jewish tradition created a clay creature to protect his people from the blood libel pogroms and other antisemitic violence. According to legend the body of rabbi loew s golem still lies in the synagogue s attic. In the old town area of prague in the heart of josefov the jewish quarter stands an unprepossessing building that hides within its walls a secret. Golem is clearly one of the most famous personalities who walked through the prague streets.
According to legend the body of rabbi loew s golem still lies in the synagogue s attic. The tale goes that in the 16th century the renowned rabbi löw also known as the maharal of prague was seeking a way to protect the local jewish people from pogroms and the whim of unpredictable rulers up at prague castle. By elisniv february 1 2011 in history latest. With its high pointed brown roof and few windows the old new synagogue maintains old world style without revealing its true age.
The most popular story seems to be that once he was for all intents and purposes deactivated by rabbi loew the golem was brought to the attic of the old new synagogue it was new at the time now it s old and he still lives there. The legend of golem. Some versions of the tale state that the golem was stolen from the genizah and entombed in a graveyard in prague s žižkov district where the žižkov television tower now stands. The quotation marks show that even his existence is disputed and quite frankly it is also seriously doubted.
To keep him safe the maharal enacted a ban on anyone entering the attic of the old new synagogue and it is widely believed that the body of prague s golem rests there to this day. Built between 1270 and 1280 it is the oldest synagogue still in use in prague. In the attic of the old new synagogue there is a genizah a room or depository in a synagogue or cemetery usually specifically for worn out hebrew language books and papers on religious topics that are to be stored before receiving a proper cemetery burial. Endowed with the power to transform the four elements into living things he moulded a superhuman from the mud of the vltava the golem.
The golem in the attic.