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Golems Are Awesome! And I Make Them!
Golems Are Awesome! And I Make Them!
I make plush golems! I embroider them and sew them by hand. On this page, you'll see some information about golems and why I love them so much, as well as pictures of some of the golems I've created.
If you want a golem, you can fill out this google form: https://forms.gle/u6V4KgmhkL9a2Q2E9
Note that I create golems at my own pace -- this is a labor of love, not a business. If you sign up via the form, I will add you to my queue. While I may be able to estimate delivery times, I cannot generally make guarantees. Thank you for reading the form carefully!
“Le Golem et Rabbi Loew près de Prague” by Miloslav Dvořak, 1951.
Golems in Judaism
Golems in Judaism
In Jewish mythology, there are many stories describing the golem -- an automaton created using Kabbalistic teachings, demonstrating the mystical accomplishment of the creator. In some of the legends, the golem is created to do chores or act as a servant, but the ones that interest me the most are those where the golem is created as a protector for the Jewish community. To me, the golem has always been a protective figure, and one that I love.
In later myths, particularly those influenced by later Christian retellings, the golem sometimes goes berserk near the end of the story. Personally, that aspect of the stories does not resonate with me, with one exception. In one story, there is a rabbi who every week deactivates his golem for Shabbat, so that it can rest. One week, he neglects to deactivate the golem for Shabbat, and the golem then goes berserk. Even our greatest, strongest protectors need rest.
The most famous golem myth is of course the Golem of Prague, although there are a growing number of modern takes on the golem story. Among others, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, The Golem and the Djinni, and The Golem of Brooklyn all come to mind (although I haven't read these yet so don't take these as explicit recommendations!).
If you're looking for a good retelling of the golem myth, here are a few recommendations that I've loved:
The Golem: The Story of a Legend, by Elie Wiesel, with illustrations by Mark Podwal
The Golem by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Golem, written and illustrated by David Wisniewski
Golems I've Made
Golems I've Made
I create my golems using cotton quilting fabric on the front, and fleece or flannel on the back. I embroider אמת (emet, the Hebrew word for truth) on the front to "activate" the golem when I'm making golems for Jewish people -- personally, I do not make "activated" golems for non-Jews. (Although I don't at all object to others doing so! This is just my personal practice.) I also sew a charm onto the golem, and sometimes add some texture by embroidering a design or part of the fabric. All of my golems are created with love, stuffed with polyfill, and hugged at least once prior to delivery. :)
If you'd like to sew your own golem, you can download my sewing pattern from the file on the right:
Golem Sewing Pattern w Instructions.pdfI’d like to note that this project was inspired by other golem fabric artists, including but not limited to Ketzirah haMa’agelet at Devotaj Sacred Arts (https://devotaj.com/collections/golem-et), and TherapyGolems (https://www.instagram.com/therapygolems/). And of course, I’m indebted to the entire previous golem mythos in all its forms, and to all the many people, from rabbis to folklorists, Jews and non-Jews, who have helped carry it forward over the years.
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