Berlin's Jewish Museum on Friday launched an exhibition dedicated to the legendary golem from Jewish folklore. In Jewish lore, a golem is an artificial being made from inanimate material that is magically brought to life through the power of Hebrew letters. It became popular and known outside Judaism in a famous story about the 16th century Rabbi Judah Loew, who is said to have created a golem out of clay to protect the Jews of Prague. The Golem exhibition includes 250 objects, including paintings, videos, costumes and contemporary art installations, that focus on the myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids. Jewish Museum Berlin Director Peter Schaefer said Thursday that "the golem can look back on a long career, in Judaism and far beyond. ... Its story begins in the Hebrew Bible and continues, in constantly new transformations, into the present day."
