104 - The Old New Synagogue of Prague and the Golem

They say a giant man of clay sits in the attic, waiting for centuries for his instructions. The story of the Golem in Prague is one of the classics of western storytelling, yet did you know that the temple where the Golem is rumored to be is a real place? The Old New Synagogue, one of the oldest active synagogues in the world, sits in the heart of Josefov, Prague's Jewish district. In this episode, we'll talk about Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, who ruled from Prague, and his fascination with astronomy, alchemy, and mystiticism. We'll discuss the fascinating people he surrounded himself with, including Chief Rabbi, Kabbalah Expert, and supposed Golem-maker Judah Loew. Joining me for this episode is Melissa Joulwan, one of the hosts of Strong Sense of Place — a podcast and website dedicated to literary travel and books with vivid settings. Melissa has lived in Prague for seven years and shares her favorite spots and treats, including větrníky, glorious caramel cream puffs.

You can listen to 104 - The Old New Synagogue of Prague and the Golem online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

104 - The Old New Synagogue of Prague and the Golem is an episode from Wonders of the World by Caroline Vahrenkamp.

This episode is 01:03:52 long.

This episode was published on Sep 19, 2024.

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