The Golem by Bashevis Singer Isaac

Author:Bashevis Singer, Isaac
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Goodreads Press
Published: 2023-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

Although the saint had told Rabbi Leib to keep the creation of the golem a secret, the fact of the golem's existence became known. In the whole city of Prague, and all over Bohemia, the news spread about the giant who saved the Jews in Prague from the false accusation. The Emperor Rudolf II also heard about the trial and ordered Rabbi Leib to bring the giant to his palace immediately after the eight days of Passover.

The night after the golem brought Hanka into the court and Reb Eliezer and the other community leaders were freed, the rabbi went up to the synagogue attic and found the golem lying there like a graven image. Rabbi Leib approached him, rubbed off the Holy Name that he had engraved on his forehead, and so made sure the golem would not appear on the days of Passover and cause a turmoil among Jews and Christians alike.

It was a happy holiday for the Jews of Prague. While they were reciting the miracles that their forefathers had known in the land of Egypt, they were also murmuring about the great miracle that had taken place right here in Prague. On Passover, every Jew is a king and every Jewess a queen. It was a great comfort to know that God was still here to protect His people from the pharaohs of today as He did more than three thousand years ago.

When Passover ended. Rabbi Leib went up to the attic in the middle of the night and, in order to fulfill the Emperor's command, again engraved the Holy Name on the golem's forehead. This time the rabbi could not hide the existence of the golem from his family or other Jews or even from the Gentiles.

When the rabbi's wife, children, and grandchildren saw the golem walking with Rabbi Leib, they screamed and ran away in panic. The horses that were harnessed to wagons and carriages began to gallop wildly or stood on their hind legs when they saw the golem. The dogs barked madly. The pigeons flew up as high as they could and circled over the rooftops. Crows were crowing. Even the oxen and cows began to bellow when they saw the golem striding with his long legs, his head towering over everybody.

When Rabbi Leib approached the Emperor's palace and the guards saw the golem, they forgot their duty to guard the entrance to the royal manor and ran for dear life. The Emperor soon learned what was going on, and he came out to meet the rabbi and his monstrous companion. Rabbi Leib bowed his head and told the golem to do the same.

The Emperor asked, "Who is this colossus—your Messiah?"

"Your Majesty," Rabbi Leib answered, "he is not our Messiah but a golem made out of clay."

"Who gave him life? How did he come to Prague?" the Emperor asked.

Rabbi Leib could not tell the truth, but neither did he want to lie. He therefore said. "Your Majesty, there are secrets that cannot be divulged even to a king.

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