The Golem of Jerusalem

Dorit Orgad once again spins her historical magic in The Golem of Jerusalem , based on the Jewish legend of the Golem of Prague. But this time the story is set in 16th century Land of Israel, under Ottoman rule. When a strange-looking infant is washed ashore in Jaffa, he is adopted by a local family, and named Tom. But his adoptive parents don`t show him much affection and as a child, Tom is something of a “golem” because he can`t express his feelings and barely talks. However, he has magical powers and an amazing memory.

The plot moves from Jaffa and Jerusalem to Safed, then to Prague where Tom meets the famous Rabbi Judah Loew Bezalel. The great rabbi turns Tom into a feeling person and teaches him to express his emotions. Although Rabbi Judah failed with his own hand-made “golem,” who turned on him, he succeeds with Tom. Tom, who can foretell the future, returns home and becomes a famous healer. He marries a girl he has known since childhood and, together with an Arab family, sets up a hostel called the “Peace Inn.” Clearly, coexistence between the two peoples is possible.