Europe

Berlin's Jewish Museums opens show on mystic golem creature

Associated Press
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A women walks past the artwork 'Golem' by Joshua Abrabanel during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

The installation 'Crisalidas' by Jorge Gil is pictured during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

The installation 'Crisalidas' by Jorge Gil is pictured during a press presentation for the 'Golem' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. The myth of artificial life, from homunculi and cyborgs to robots and androids, is the focus of an exhibition about the Golem at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The exhibition runs from Sept. 23, 2016 until Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

Berlin's Jewish Museum is presenting a show on the legendary golem from ancient folklore and its modern day transformations.

A golem is an artificial being made from inanimate material that's brought to life through the power of Hebrew letters.

It became popular and known outside Judaism in a famous story about the sixteenth-century Rabbi Judah Loew who's said to have created a golem out of clay to protect the Jews of Prague.

The director of the Jewish Museum, Peter Schaefer, said Thursday that "the golem can look back on a long career, in Judaism and far beyond. ... Its story begins in the Hebrew bible and continues, in constantly new transformations, into the present day."

The exhibition opens Friday with 250 objects including paintings, videos, costumes and contemporary art installations.