What do you think?
Rate this book
The Prague Golem
Prague has been one of the most significant towns of European Judaism for many centuries. The stories about the wise Rabbi Loew, the Golem and wealthy Mordecai Maisel allow us to visualize the long lost world of the Jewish Prague. Beautifully illustrated in black-and-white.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
33 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Harald Salfellner
27 books3 followersHarald Salfellner
Austrian physician Dr Harald Salfellner, PhD has lived and worked in Prague since 1989 as an author, editor and publisher. In total, over a million copies of his books on Bohemian and Austrian cultural history have been sold, including the monograph Franz Kafka and Prague, which has been translated into eight languages. As a medical historian, he has spent many years working on the cultural history of medicine (e. g. With Pen and Scalpel; Once a Doctor, Always a Doctor) and researching the Spanish flu in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
Austrian physician Dr Harald Salfellner, PhD has lived and worked in Prague since 1989 as an author, editor and publisher. In total, over a million copies of his books on Bohemian and Austrian cultural history have been sold, including the monograph Franz Kafka and Prague, which has been translated into eight languages. As a medical historian, he has spent many years working on the cultural history of medicine (e. g. With Pen and Scalpel; Once a Doctor, Always a Doctor) and researching the Spanish flu in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 28, 2016
The Jews of Prague
28 September 2011
I was wondering around the Prague Castle when I realised that I needed to pick up some souvenirs for friends back home in Australia so I decided to wonder into one of the shops there (and to be honest with you, I have seen more souvenir shops in one city in Europe that I have seen in my entire life in Australia - we Australians really have no concept of mass tourism). Anyway, a friend of mine wanted something arcane, and to be honest with you, I did not realise that you could get any more arcane than Prague. However, as I wondered around this store, I found this book, and simply going on the title I decided to purchase it.
This is a collection of stories that arose from the Prague Ghetto. For those who do not know, the Ghetto is not a slum (as is the common usage of the word) but derives from the island in Venice where the Jews were locked up at night. From this one location all of the Jewish Quarters throughout Europe derived their name, and thus the Prague Ghetto is basically the Jewish Quarter of Prague. However, since the Jews have been pretty mistreated throughout the years, and the places in the cities that they were relegated to were dumps, the connection between a Ghetto and a slum arose.
However, this quaint little book tells the story of how the Jews arrived in Prague and the challenges they faced there. Mind you, these stories are legends and there is a lot of mystical elements surrounding them. The arrival of the Jews came as a prophecy to the first Queen of Bohemia (the land of which Prague was the capital) that if she were to allow the Jews to settle there then her land will prosper. It did.
It also tells the stories of how various Jewish landmarks (such as the Old-New Synagogue, and a couple of streets) came about. Once again, these stories have the elements of legend in them, such as the Jew who upset his patron by praising God whenever his patron gave him money. The patron then withdrew his support, and in the Jew's darkest hour, a monkey full of gold came flying through the window.
It should be noted that all of the Jews are upstanding and moral characters in the legends. They are always honest (well, okay, not always, but the characters that the stories promote are) and are always fair in their dealings. However, they also face persecution, but in these times there is always divine intervention (such as when the Emperor Wenceclaus falls into a deep sleep and signs a document revoking his expulsion of the Jews).
However, I wish to finish with the story that caused me to purchase this little book: the Golem. I have always known the golem as something that came out of Dungeons and Dragons, and may have originated from some early fantasy book (such as say Frankenstein). However, it turns out that it did not. It was a Jewish myth. I had only just discovered that, so when I found a book about the Golem I quickly snapped it up. I won't go into any further details of the Golem (and for those who are interested I am sure you can easily find it on the internet), but this book was a fascinating read, if you can find it (and hopefully that does not involve a trip to Prague).
28 September 2011
I was wondering around the Prague Castle when I realised that I needed to pick up some souvenirs for friends back home in Australia so I decided to wonder into one of the shops there (and to be honest with you, I have seen more souvenir shops in one city in Europe that I have seen in my entire life in Australia - we Australians really have no concept of mass tourism). Anyway, a friend of mine wanted something arcane, and to be honest with you, I did not realise that you could get any more arcane than Prague. However, as I wondered around this store, I found this book, and simply going on the title I decided to purchase it.
This is a collection of stories that arose from the Prague Ghetto. For those who do not know, the Ghetto is not a slum (as is the common usage of the word) but derives from the island in Venice where the Jews were locked up at night. From this one location all of the Jewish Quarters throughout Europe derived their name, and thus the Prague Ghetto is basically the Jewish Quarter of Prague. However, since the Jews have been pretty mistreated throughout the years, and the places in the cities that they were relegated to were dumps, the connection between a Ghetto and a slum arose.
However, this quaint little book tells the story of how the Jews arrived in Prague and the challenges they faced there. Mind you, these stories are legends and there is a lot of mystical elements surrounding them. The arrival of the Jews came as a prophecy to the first Queen of Bohemia (the land of which Prague was the capital) that if she were to allow the Jews to settle there then her land will prosper. It did.
It also tells the stories of how various Jewish landmarks (such as the Old-New Synagogue, and a couple of streets) came about. Once again, these stories have the elements of legend in them, such as the Jew who upset his patron by praising God whenever his patron gave him money. The patron then withdrew his support, and in the Jew's darkest hour, a monkey full of gold came flying through the window.
It should be noted that all of the Jews are upstanding and moral characters in the legends. They are always honest (well, okay, not always, but the characters that the stories promote are) and are always fair in their dealings. However, they also face persecution, but in these times there is always divine intervention (such as when the Emperor Wenceclaus falls into a deep sleep and signs a document revoking his expulsion of the Jews).
However, I wish to finish with the story that caused me to purchase this little book: the Golem. I have always known the golem as something that came out of Dungeons and Dragons, and may have originated from some early fantasy book (such as say Frankenstein). However, it turns out that it did not. It was a Jewish myth. I had only just discovered that, so when I found a book about the Golem I quickly snapped it up. I won't go into any further details of the Golem (and for those who are interested I am sure you can easily find it on the internet), but this book was a fascinating read, if you can find it (and hopefully that does not involve a trip to Prague).
October 13, 2017
Interseting combination of history and folklore in a series of short stories
April 15, 2024
Der Golem und andere jüdische Erzählungen - unerlässlich, wenn man Prag und Prager Literatur vom Mittelalter über Kafka bis zu Jaroslav Rudiš verstehen möchte.
February 18, 2016
Me ha gustado mucho esta colección de leyendas de los judíos de Praga. A diferencia de lo que el título pueda sugerir, apenas hay un par o tres de relatos en los que aparece el Golem. Aparece la historia de cómo llegó a Praga la comunidad judía, se habla de algunos personajes semi legendarios como Meisel o el rabino Löw, se habla del Golem y de algunos eventos que ocurrieron en la ciudad.
Me gusta cómo las historias mezclan lo legendario con lo histórico y he aprendido bastante de la cultura judía en la ciudad con este libro. Se ve que el narrador tiene un punto de vista muy semita y eso les da a las historias un sabor más tradicional. Lo mismo pasa con la manera en la que están contadas, que no debe ser muy diferente a cómo se cuentan estas historias de manera oral.
Las ilustraciones ilustran perfectamente las calles y el cementerio del gueto y creo que añaden a la experiencia de leer este librito.
Lo recomiendo si te interesa el tema.
Me gusta cómo las historias mezclan lo legendario con lo histórico y he aprendido bastante de la cultura judía en la ciudad con este libro. Se ve que el narrador tiene un punto de vista muy semita y eso les da a las historias un sabor más tradicional. Lo mismo pasa con la manera en la que están contadas, que no debe ser muy diferente a cómo se cuentan estas historias de manera oral.
Las ilustraciones ilustran perfectamente las calles y el cementerio del gueto y creo que añaden a la experiencia de leer este librito.
Lo recomiendo si te interesa el tema.
May 19, 2009
Quaint short stories about the Jews in the Prague Ghetto. The Prague Jews are portrayed as a people living on the edge, waiting for the next disaster to label them the perpetrators and face a pogrom. They can only rely on a benevolent Czech ruler sitting up in Prague Castle on the hill (he is not always benevolent and had his fits and burps too), magic, dreams, Golem's and other mystical happenings to guide and protect them.
The prophet Elijah pays frequent visits and Rabbis are astute and calculating solvers of human dilemmas.
Throughout the stories, virtue and honesty are espoused, and infidelity is portrayed as the root of all evil. It seems that nothing much has changed over the centuries - that, or we humans just don't get it, do we?
The prophet Elijah pays frequent visits and Rabbis are astute and calculating solvers of human dilemmas.
Throughout the stories, virtue and honesty are espoused, and infidelity is portrayed as the root of all evil. It seems that nothing much has changed over the centuries - that, or we humans just don't get it, do we?
December 20, 2020
This is a little collection of Jewish legends set in Prague, I definitely enjoyed reading them and I would like to learn more about the Jewish culture in Prague, since this book was only a glimpse of that.
August 17, 2017
Mitos que alimentan la creencia. Interesante para entender algunos pasajes de los judíos por la Europa Oriental y particularmente por Praga.
January 2, 2023
Històries interessants que donen una perspectiva que no tenia sobre el call i la cultura jueva a Praga. No està massa ben escrit ni massa ben estructuat, però al menys serveixen per transmetre llegendes i històries sobre un aspecte molt important de la història europea.
October 24, 2021
"Die eisernen Tore des Ghettos waren jetzt auch bei Tag geschlossen, aus Furcht vor der Wut des Pöbels, der bei solchen Gelegenheiten so gern bereit ist, seine Raubgier und seinen zügellosen Haß gegen die Juden als patriotische Ergebenheit zu drapieren."
600 Jahre später und ich weiß genau, von welchem Pöbel die Rede ist.
Dieses kleine Büchlein (63 Seiten) erzählt von Prager Sagen und Legenden, z.B. von der Entstehung der Altneusynagoge oder dem jüdischen Friedhof. Die Geschichten selbst stammen aus verschiedenen Werken und wurden hier zusammengestellt und mit wunderschönen Illustrationen geschmückt.
Ich selbst war leider noch nie in Prag, das Buch war ein Geschenk, aber ich fand es dennoch sehr interessant, in diesen alten Sagen zu schwelgen und mir das alte Prag vorzustellen.
Zur jüdischen Geschichte gehört immer auch Verfolgung und Bedrohung, und es ist irgendwie schön zu sehen, wie sich in den Geschichten zur Wehr gesetzt wurde, beispielsweise mit der Weisheit des Superheld-mäßigen Rabbis Löw oder dem Golem, der echt ein krasser Typ war.
Leider ausnahmslos immer ein Wermutstropfen in alten Märchen/Sagen: die Darstellung von Frauen. Frauen sind immer die, die zänkisch sind, nichts für sich behalten können und Ehebruch betreiben. Puh. Da werd ich auch zänkisch!
600 Jahre später und ich weiß genau, von welchem Pöbel die Rede ist.
Dieses kleine Büchlein (63 Seiten) erzählt von Prager Sagen und Legenden, z.B. von der Entstehung der Altneusynagoge oder dem jüdischen Friedhof. Die Geschichten selbst stammen aus verschiedenen Werken und wurden hier zusammengestellt und mit wunderschönen Illustrationen geschmückt.
Ich selbst war leider noch nie in Prag, das Buch war ein Geschenk, aber ich fand es dennoch sehr interessant, in diesen alten Sagen zu schwelgen und mir das alte Prag vorzustellen.
Zur jüdischen Geschichte gehört immer auch Verfolgung und Bedrohung, und es ist irgendwie schön zu sehen, wie sich in den Geschichten zur Wehr gesetzt wurde, beispielsweise mit der Weisheit des Superheld-mäßigen Rabbis Löw oder dem Golem, der echt ein krasser Typ war.
Leider ausnahmslos immer ein Wermutstropfen in alten Märchen/Sagen: die Darstellung von Frauen. Frauen sind immer die, die zänkisch sind, nichts für sich behalten können und Ehebruch betreiben. Puh. Da werd ich auch zänkisch!
January 5, 2024
Libro preso nel quartiere ebraico di Praga per provare a rimediare alla mia scandalosa ignoranza sul mondo ebraico.
Capitolo dopo capitolo, si ripercorrono le più famose leggende ebraiche praghesi e si fa la conoscenza dei celebri personaggi di questa tradizione: dai primi ebrei giunti nella zona in tempi precristiani a Mordechai Meisel, dall'ebreo silenzioso a Rabbi Löw e alla creazione del Golem.
Una prima occhiata (almeno per me) a questa mitologia davvero affascinante.
Capitolo dopo capitolo, si ripercorrono le più famose leggende ebraiche praghesi e si fa la conoscenza dei celebri personaggi di questa tradizione: dai primi ebrei giunti nella zona in tempi precristiani a Mordechai Meisel, dall'ebreo silenzioso a Rabbi Löw e alla creazione del Golem.
Una prima occhiata (almeno per me) a questa mitologia davvero affascinante.
October 18, 2015
Comprei esse livrinho em Praga e foi bem interessante ler histórias e lendas sobre lugares que eu visitei e pessoas homenageadas no bairro judeu (Josefov), a sinagoga Velha-Nova, a rua Pinkas, o rabino Loew e outros.
November 1, 2021
Es de muy fácil lectura e interesante. No sólo habla del Golem sino que también se pueden leer otras leyendas de la tradición judía.
Una buena lectura de Todos lo Santos ya que algunas historias son bastante truculentas y tienen que ver con muertos y espíritus.
Una buena lectura de Todos lo Santos ya que algunas historias son bastante truculentas y tienen que ver con muertos y espíritus.
December 7, 2017
Well, I suspected a book called "The Prague Golem" would mostly contain stories about Golem. And I imagined, that these would take place around WWII. It turned out I was wrong. Stories were about how Jews came to Prague, and how they lived in here, also stories about how some important buildings were created, and stories about most prominent members of the Ghetto. There were few stories about Golem, but it made just a part of book. The stories were old, they took place from VIII to XVI. It was interesting and informative read. I've got more knowledge about history of Prague and about Jewish stories, their culture, tradition and religion. It wasn't easy read though. Stories were told like old legends. Some of them were captivating, but not all of them. In general, it was more informative than entertaining read for me.
March 30, 2019
I bought this book while on vacation in Prague. It has several Jewish short-stories from the Prague Ghetto. During my vacation in Prague my family spent part of one day in the Jewish quarter where we visited synagogues, the old Jewish cemetery, and walked the streets. Several of the stories in this book we heard pieces of during our adventure. I enjoyed learning more details by reading the stories (maybe better classified as folk tales) of the Jewish people in Prague.
One thing I appreciated is how much the Jewish people in Prague, and in the short stories, respected great scholars and learning in general. It was the great scholars that were admired and used as examples for others to follow.
I wish there had been more stories about the creature Golem that is pictured on the cover.
One thing I appreciated is how much the Jewish people in Prague, and in the short stories, respected great scholars and learning in general. It was the great scholars that were admired and used as examples for others to follow.
I wish there had been more stories about the creature Golem that is pictured on the cover.
September 22, 2024
The Prague Golem is a collection of Jewish folklore from Europe that's revealing for its mysticism. The spiritual intuition of truths is a different take on Jewish narrative for those who associate Judaism with adherence to the law, logic and righteousness.
The stories deal with themes that include unexpected fortune, piety and anti-Semitism. Because Jews were the target of persecution, the golem came into being. The anthropomorphic figure is a metaphor that is at once the villain and victim. The golem has echoes of the Frankenstein story, and it is never shown taking revenge on anti-Semites or engaged in any physical attack.
Sudden wealth is another key element of the stories. Wealth was a dream of the Prague community in part as Jews are depicted as living in the lower depths of the larger community due to anti-Semitism.
Another motif in the stories is the portrayal of sexual infidelity as the root of all evil. Do we humans -- Jewish, Gentile, pagan -- ever learn?
Rabbis make up many of the characters, and they come off as clever, astute and thoughtful. Morality, virtue and upright living are espoused, ideas that go back to Bible, the book of the Jews.
The stories deal with themes that include unexpected fortune, piety and anti-Semitism. Because Jews were the target of persecution, the golem came into being. The anthropomorphic figure is a metaphor that is at once the villain and victim. The golem has echoes of the Frankenstein story, and it is never shown taking revenge on anti-Semites or engaged in any physical attack.
Sudden wealth is another key element of the stories. Wealth was a dream of the Prague community in part as Jews are depicted as living in the lower depths of the larger community due to anti-Semitism.
Another motif in the stories is the portrayal of sexual infidelity as the root of all evil. Do we humans -- Jewish, Gentile, pagan -- ever learn?
Rabbis make up many of the characters, and they come off as clever, astute and thoughtful. Morality, virtue and upright living are espoused, ideas that go back to Bible, the book of the Jews.
February 19, 2017
A nice collection of tales about the Jewish community of Prague. Despite the title, only a few stories are actually about the Golem. However, it is quite interesting to read these short tales and learn something about Jewish culture - especially if you have been to Prague, you may recognise some of the places mentioned in the stories.
All in all, it's quite an entertaining collection, but nothing special. I would recommend it if you're interested in Jewish culture, if you have been to Prague and would like to kill time in an intellectual manner.
All in all, it's quite an entertaining collection, but nothing special. I would recommend it if you're interested in Jewish culture, if you have been to Prague and would like to kill time in an intellectual manner.
July 3, 2023
I don’t know how to evaluate the translation and presentation of the folklore/stories of the Jews of Prague. Only a few of the tales are about the Golem, but tend to focus on extraordinary people and events in the Jewish Prague community. Still, the Golem stories are interesting and but apparently are some of the central narratives of the Golem in Jewish folk history.
I bought this book in Prague and toured the Jewish quarter as I read it, which helps a lot to picture the sites that are referenced in different tales.
I bought this book in Prague and toured the Jewish quarter as I read it, which helps a lot to picture the sites that are referenced in different tales.
July 14, 2024
Una breve colección de leyendas judías de las comunidades hebreas de Praga. No se trata de aventuras ni de héroes, sino de cuentos cortos con buenas moralejas sobre la humildad, la fidelidad, el honor, la fe... Y translucen elementos de la vida cotidiana de la judería de Praga. Están bien pero creo que quizá no aporten gran cosa a quien no tenga especial interés en la cultura hebrea, salvo quizás por la leyenda del famoso Golem.
September 10, 2019
Short legends and tales of Prague's Jewish community from mid-19th- to early 20th-century collections. The style is charming and naive (the translation excellent), yet the content can be mined for some insights into Jewish values, lifestyles, experiences and collective memory in Central Europe at the early modern and industrial periods.
September 20, 2019
I'm not sure how this book came to me. Maybe I bought it in Prague, a very beautiful and interesting city. Anyway, it's nice to learn a little about Jewish traditions and trying to remember or identify some places in the city. It would be even nicer if everybody could learn something about other cultures and religions to see that differences shouldn't generate intolerance and hatred.
March 5, 2023
Libricino caruccio, rispetto ad un'altra pubblicazione sulle leggende di Praga ha alcuni particolari in più, ma in alcuni casi come due storie sul rabbino Löwe ci sono delle discrepanze. Quindi il dubbio è capire da quali libri siano stati estrapolati questi racconti e quanto sia stato "aggiunto" dai curatori e dai traduttori.
Si fa leggere piuttosto velocemente
Si fa leggere piuttosto velocemente
August 24, 2024
Descripció de diferents llegendes dels jueus de Praga sense massa literatura, es podrien fer francament més interessants amb un altre estil. No deixa de ser curiós però i s'aprenen certs ritus jueus i termes. La part del golem, destacat a la portada, no és tan important en realitat, només com una llegenda més del rabí Loew.
June 2, 2017
Jewish mythology is delightful in its specificity. It is so tied to particular spaces and people it's a joy to read, particularly if you have the good fortune of visiting the places they are talking about first hand. In this little tome you can learn about all sorts of stories specific to the Prague Jewish Ghetto, the most famous of which is of course Rabbi Loew's Golem, but also Mordecai Maisel's good fortune (which funded the Maisel Synagogue) , the Piska gold of Passover (after which the Piska street is named and like chocolate coins in Seder) and even stories of ghosts and omens in the Prague cemetery. Highly recommended short read for anyone traveling to the "Josefov."
December 25, 2019
ユダヤ人の話を読むのが好きだった。たくさん習った感じだ。昔、私の家族はポーランドから来たユダヤ人だけど改宗したからこの話を習うのが好きだった。
I really liked reading these Jewish stories. I feel like I learned a lot. A long time ago, my family was Jewish, but they converted so I liked learning these stories.
I really liked reading these Jewish stories. I feel like I learned a lot. A long time ago, my family was Jewish, but they converted so I liked learning these stories.
August 12, 2023
This book has a lot of interesting folk stories about the Jewish community in Prague. I would have changed the title up a bit, because only three stories are about the golem. And the other stories are also really interesting!
August 26, 2023
These short stories offer interesting perspectives on Prague's Jewish community and its history, as well as historical characters such as—Rabbi Lowe and the Golem—who often appear in fictional stories about Prague.
November 14, 2023
A beautiful and very interesting book about stories, myths, and legends about the Jewish Prague. Not only I enjoyed all the stories I read, but I also learned about the ghetto, some Jewish important dates and traditions. Of course, I loved reading the stories about the Golem.
November 28, 2024
Short stories about the Jewish community in Prague, from legends of the arrival of the community in the High Middle Ages, to stories from the late Renaissance.
Interesting to read about myths and legends that are often totally overlooked.
The editorial notes are sometimes useful.
Interesting to read about myths and legends that are often totally overlooked.
The editorial notes are sometimes useful.
April 2, 2025
I thought I would like it better, since I enjoyed the movies about the Golem very much. However, some stories were pretty uninteresting, but the illustrations are awesome (although they (almost) have nothing to do with the stories themselves).
July 29, 2018
An interesting collection of Jewish folktales based around Prague.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews