Most people have heard of the golem of Prague, but what about the golem of Chelm? Which one was the “real” golem? And why is there such a proliferation of modern golems, from the Simpsons to Minecraft, not to mention the growing number of golem novels for adults and picture books for kids. Was Superman a golem? What about AI?

Join this course to explore the golem story – it’s roots and how and why it has resonated so strongly in the modern imagination. With brief lecture, chevruta (paired learning), whole group discussion, and even a golem craft project during the last weeks, we will explore a wide variety of sources.