Monday, October 7, 2024
7pm ET

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A golem is a man of clay brought to life through the power of the written word. Of all the legends and stories of golems, perhaps the most famous is the story of Rabbi Loew and the Golem of Prague. Rabbi Loew—or so the story tells us—in Prague, during the reign of Rudolph II in the 16th century, used secret practices from the Kabbalah to bring a clay man to life to defend against anti-Semitic attacks. This story has resonated for generations and has been retold many times. What truths are there in this story, how did this Golem come to be?

This talk will look into the mystical practices of Judaism that are at the heart of the legends, and how the story evolved through the 20th century. And perhaps, as well, see what we can learn from these tales in this time of robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence.

Brian Cotnoir is an alchemist, artist, and award-winning filmmaker. A contributor to Frater Albertus’ Parachemy, he is also the author of a series of Alchemy Zines. His books include Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter (2017), Practical Alchemy: A Guide to the Great Work, Alchemical Meditations, and the Emerald Tablet, his translations of and commentary on, the earliest Arabic and Latin versions of this seminal text. And most recently, On Alchemy: Essential Practices and Making Art as Alchemy. He has presented workshops and seminars around the world on various aspects of alchemical theory and practice based on his research.His film work has been screened at Museum of Modern Art, Sundance Film Festival, HBO, PBS and other international venues. Khepri Press, launched in 2014 with the publication of the Emerald Tablet, is the vehicle and portal for his alchemical work.