Ivy Daitch - February 17, 2026 - five-minute read
Fantastic Monsters in Jewish Life
A depiction of the Golem of Prague and Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel
When it comes to Jewish stories, most people are familiar with classic tales like Jonah and the Whale, Esther the Persian Queen and David and Goliath. But beyond the most famous biblical stories, the Jewish people have many folktales and fascinating stories to contribute to classic monster tales.
If one were to travel to Prague, one would see Golem of Prague figurines for sale in every tourist gift shop, but few realize that this man of clay is a Jewish figure brought to life by the magic of Jewish mysticism, also known as Kabbalah.
The story goes like this: in the 16th century, Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel heard a mysterious voice warning him about a plan to destroy the people of the Jewish ghetto. To fight this enemy, Rabbi Loew went to the Vltava River and, with the help of G-d, crafted a man made of clay that was brought to life with a shem (a holy name of G-d) placed in his mouth. The Golem protected the Jewish quarter but could not think or speak. Every Friday, Rabbi Loew removed the shem from the Golem, allowing their protector to rest as G-d commanded on the Sabbath. One day, Rabbi Loew forgot to remove the shem from the Golem, and it was said to go on a rampage. As the Golem only responded to its creator, Rabbi Loew, Shabbat worshipers interrupted Rabbi Loew's service to beg for help. Loew quickly found the rampaging Golem, removed the shem, and never brought the Golem back to life. Many traditions and rumors have come from this Golem. Some say the Golem's remains are in the Old New Synagogue in Prague in a locked attic; others say the clay returned to the Earth. What do you think happened?
The Old New Synagogue in Prague
A photo I personally took in October 2025 of the interior of the Old New Synagogue in Prague
"In that day, G-d will punish
With a great, cruel, mighty sword
Leviathan the Elusive Serpent—
Leviathan the Twisting Serpent;
The Dragon of the sea will be slain."
(Isaiah 27:1)
With a great, cruel, mighty sword
Leviathan the Elusive Serpent—
Leviathan the Twisting Serpent;
The Dragon of the sea will be slain."
(Isaiah 27:1)
Fun Fact: In modern Hebrew, the word "leviathan" means “whale."
Another famous Jewish "monster" is the biblical Leviathan. The Leviathan is a giant tzadikim sea creature that appears six times in Jewish textual tradition (in the books of Isaiah, Psalms and Job). Rabbinic literature describes God creating the serpent on the fifth day of creation and how, one day, the righteous will feast on its flesh.
While stories of this creature have been around for centuries, it was in the Middle Ages that Jewish people reconciled with the Leviathan and declared it "one of the three guardian monsters presiding over world order" alongside the Behemoth and birds (Ziz and Bar Yochnei). These Jews turned a terrifying sea serpent into a large fish that protects the rest of G-d's sea creatures and ensures the circle of life in the ocean.
Jewish culture is full of animals, monsters and mythology. The Golem and the Leviathan are just two of many complex creatures that keep children up at night, both in fear and in comfort. What's your favorite Jewish monster story? Let me know through the contact page below!
Thank you!