Der goylem

by H. Leiyick

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Genres: Plays, Jewish, Drama

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

H. Leivick (pen name of Leivick Halpern, December 25, 1888 – December 23, 1962) was a Yiddish language writer, known for his 1921 "dramatic poem in eight scenes" The Golem. He also wrote many highly political, realistic plays, including "Shop."

He adopted the pen name of Leivick to avoid being confused with Moyshe-Leyb Halpern, another prominent Yiddish poet.

Reviews

[Hadrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

7,5/10

[Leylamaría · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really powerful language

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play uses a Jewish folktale to tell a cautionary story. The Golem stops the pogrom against the Jewish community, but eventually turns on its creator and the Jewish people he (it?) was created to protect.

This is a much shortened version of H. Leivick’s original verse drama and it felt like it. It touches on many themes/ideas such as the benefits and dangers of resistance, how the weapons we invent can be turned against us, the dangers of creating people (also robots) that are stronger/smarter than us, the dangers of playing god (i.e., creating live/intelligence), etc. All of these ideas are teased in this play, but not fully developed.

A very interesting concept though.