JDub Records

Golem - Tucheses and Nenes


The Czech Republic has issued a stamp honoring Rabbi Yehuda Loew ben Bezalel, who died 400 years ago this fall. Known for his treaties on philosophy, the Talmud, and law, he’s also credited with inventing the character of the Golem, to defend Prague’s Jews from accusations of blood libel. In addition to the stamp, the Imperial Stables at the Prague Castle is holding an exhibit about the rabbi through November.

Speaking of Golem, we recently had a fan video submitted to us from the band’s show at the Echo in Los Angeles on March 18th. One of the better fan videos we’ve seen around here. Check it out!!

Sexy Talmud. That’s a good combination, I think. Ofri Cnaani has been working on her video installation, The Sota Project for years (including as part of The Six Points Fellowship), and soon we’ll have the chance to experience it in a huge production this spring. Ofri studied and researched the ancient story from the Talmud about a women suspected of adultery who is put on trial. It’s a pretty gory ritual, and a part of the text that often causes discomfort in liberal/feminist/self-aware circles. In the Sota ritual, a suspected wife is evaluated by the High Priest in the temple; she is forced to stand naked before God and the priest and drink “bitter” water. If she was guilty, her stomach would rupture – and if innocent, she would become pregnant. Pretty intense, but not so far from some of the stories we’ve read recently in the news about the punishment for adulterous women. Ofri takes a short Sota text that describes a specific instance of betrayal and sisterhood, and reworks it into a modern narrative, “weaving the yarns of classic Jewish verse into a tapestry of intricate patterns.” Those are her words, and have a look at the trailer above.