The Golem Bride: A Tale of Eliyahu Baal Shem

by Barak A. Bassman

Eliyahu Baal Shem, a once renowned but now forgotten master of the Kabbalah, of Jewish mystical lore, had long given up on the making of golems. He regretted the golem he had once made in his youth, and he had sworn off creating another one. But then one day a stranger came to his house with a bizarre plea for A Polish nobleman had fallen in love with an inanimate, life-size doll of a woman, and he was convinced that this doll had once been a golem, fashioned by a great rabbi, that had been able to walk and talk. The nobleman threatened grave harm against the Jews on his lands unless they could find a rabbi with sufficient power to bring her back to life, so he could embrace and marry his beloved doll. Would Eliyahu Baal Shem, the stranger asked, return with him to save his community from their mad lord?

What follows is an exploration of a bizarre, destructive love and the seductions of the artificial creation of life. And the old mystic will perhaps find himself also falling victim to the lure of a golem in the form of a beautiful, gushing maiden.

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2025

Reviews

[Ericka Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads.

The story started slowly. Rabbi Eliyahu is summoned by a nobleman to bring life to clay doll he acquired. The nobleman stated that he was enchanted with the doll and heard that the rabbi was pious and learned in mystical ways and rumored to bring a golem to life in the past.

As stated above, the story is a little slow in the beginning as it sets up the story by telling other side stories. The book is only 82 pages long but it tells a great deal about golems and the mystical side of Judaism.

[Matthew Lachkovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this from a giveaway. The author is a good writer, but this book just wasn't for me. I would recommend reading a sample before buying the book. I think some people would really like it, it just wasn't my jam.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible story. If you want to experience Jewish words and tradition and learn more about golem lore, this is a really fantastic piece - and just 80 pages!

[Amy J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! The writing is super poetic and a little heavy at times, but the story and themes totally pulled me in. Such an unusual, haunting take on the golem legend—solid 4 stars from me.