An endnote about the history and influence of the legend is particularly comprehensive. The fiery, crisply layered paper illustrations, portraying with equal drama and precision the ornamental architecture of Prague and the unearthly career of the Golem, match the specificity and splendor of the storytelling. to me!'' Wisniewski (The Wave of the Sea Wolf) emphasizes the Golem's humanity and the problems with his existence instead of reducing the legend to a tale of a magical rescuer, the author allows for its historical and emotional complexity. It also offers a thought-provoking look at the consequences of unleashing power beyond human control. Once his work is done, he pitifully (and futilely) begs the Rabbi: ''Please let me live! I did all that you asked of me! Life is so. Details Retold from traditional sources and accompanied by David Wisniewski's unique cut-paper illustrations, Golem is a dramatic tale of supernatural forces invoked to save an oppressed people. Thwarted, the enraged enemies of the Jews storm the gates of the ghetto, but the Golem grows to enormous height and violently defeats them with their own battering ram. Rabbi Loew has a prophetic vision in 1580 when the Jews of Prague are accused of mixing the blood of Christian children into matzoh: he must create a Golem, ''a giant of living clay, animated by Cabala, mystical teachings of unknown power.'' Brought to life with apocalyptic explosions of steam and rain, the Golem seeks out the perpetrators of the Blood Lie and turns them over to the authorities. There is menace and majesty in Wisniewski's use of color, and he finds atmosphere and terror in a scissor's stroke.Ī fact-filled final note concludes this mesmerizing book.Elaborately composed cut-paper spreads give a 3D, puppet-show-like quality to a retelling of a Jewish legend. The cut-paper collages are exquisitely produced and exceedingly dramatic. Free Essay: David Wisniewski creates his illustrations in Golem by paper cutting - cutting the image he wants on paper and then layering the paper on a. and bring them unharmed to the authorities.' In Wisniewski's story, the Golem turns back the rampaging masses who want to destroy the Jews of Prague and is eventually returned to the clay from which he sprang.

Loew's Golem-a sort of simple yet powerful giant made of clay with the Hebrew word emet (truth) on his forehead-is named Joseph and charged to 'guard the ghetto at night and catch those planting false evidence of the Blood Lie. 4to picture book, illustrated boards, the Caldecott medalist for 1996. Like Rogasky's book (see review, above), Wisniewski's exposes the slander that was embraced and widely promulgated during the Holocaust years.

The much honored cut-paper master (Sundiata, 1992, etc.) turns his attention to a retelling of the story of the Golem, created by a chief rabbi, Judah Loew, to defend the Jews against the 'Blood Lie' (that Jews were mixing the blood of Christian children with the flour and water of matzoh) of 16th-century Prague.

Golem wisniewski