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Subject: Re: Program name list

Author: Amir Ban

Date: 05:29:56 09/05/99

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On September 04, 1999 at 06:33:49, Ralf Elvsén wrote:

>On September 03, 1999 at 20:12:17, Michel Chassey wrote:
>
>>To Masciulli Gianluigi:
>>                        if I remember correctly a golem is some kind of
>>droid. The concept comes from the Dune saga. I could be wrong but a golem
>>was the only legal computer in the Empire.
>>
>>"Golem, teach me chess !"
>>"Yes, Master."
>>                Michel Chassey      ;-D
>
>If my memory serves me right, the creature appears in jewish
>folklore. It is created by magic, to serve good or evil,
>often with fatal consequences :)
>
>Ralf

This is true. The golem (hebrew for dummy or cocoon) was according to legend
created by Rabbi Low, also called the Maharal, a famous 17th-18th century rabbi
from Prague. This legend is an earlier version of the Frankenstein story. The
rabbi created the golem to protect and serve the community, but he ran out of
control, and the rabbi used his powers to tame the monster.

I visited Prague a few weeks ago. There are cafes and streets named after the
golem there, and the legend is a big tourist attraction. The tourist guides
point to an attic in an old synagogue where they say the golem is still locked
up.

Amir





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