Path of Life. Judah Loew ben Bezalel (ca. 1525–1609)

The 7th of September 2009 (18th of 5769) is the 400th anniversary of the death of Judah Loew ben Bezalel, known both as the Maharal and Rabbi Loew. Published by the Jewish Museum in and the Academia Publishing House on the occasion of the major exhibition of the same name at Prague Castle, the deluxe book Path of Life is more than a mere catalogue for the exhibition, although it features a substantial selection of the exhibits on view from the collections of the Jewish Museum in Prague and from numerous other prestigious Czech and foreign cultural institutions. It is a work that provides insights into the authentic legacy of the Maharal, which so far has remained concealed from the Jewish and non-Jewish public.

In Czech and English 520 pp, 402 colour illustrations

Czech version. ISBN 978-80-200-1742-0 (Academia) ISBN 978-80-86889-87-0 (Jewish Museum in Prague)

English version ISBN 978-80-200-1775-8 (Academia) ISBN 978-80-86889-89-4 (Jewish Museum in Prague)

You can buy the book Path of Life:

Ÿin the Jewish Museum in Prague's online store Czech version http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/shop/czshop.php English version http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/shop/ashop.htm Ÿby e-mail to [email protected]

Price: ŸCzech version 1,590 CZK 89 USD 64 EUR ŸEnglish version 1,790 CZK 99 USD 72 EUR

Packing: 100 CZK 6 USD 4 EUR

ŸPostage according to the country of destination, max.: 1,000 CZK 55 USD 39 EUR CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION Eva Kosáková (Jewish Museum in Prague): Acknowledgements – Institutions and Sponsors Leo Pavlát (Jewish Museum in Prague): Maharal's Legacy Alexandr Putík (Jewish Museum in Prague): The Conception and Division of the Exhibition

2. A WORD FROM THE RABBI of Prague and Land Rabbi of the Efraim Karol Sidon: NOMEN OMEN, or the High Rabbi Lion

3. ESSAYS PhDr. Alexandr Putík – Mgr. Daniel Polakovič (Jewish Museum in Prague): Judah Loew ben Bezalel, Called Maharal. A Study on his Genealogy and Biography prof. Byron L. Sherwin, Ph.D. (Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago): Paradox and Irony: The Thought of Judah Loew of Prague Benjamin Richler, M.L.S. (Jewish National and University Library in ): Manuscripts of Maharal's Writings Isaac Yudlov, M.L.S. (Institute of Hebrew Bibliography in ): The Publication of the Works of Maharal of Prague. Bibliographical List PhDr. Pavel Sládek, Ph.D. (Charles University in Prague): Prague Jewish Scholars of the Golden Age Mgr. Ivo Purš (Art History Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences): The Intellectual World of Rudolf II and the prof. PhDr. Vít Vlnas, Ph.D. (National Gallery in Prague, Charles University in Prague): Castle, City, Ghetto. On Prague at the Times of Rudolf II and Maharal PhDr. Arno Pařík (Jewish Museum in Prague): The Prague Ghetto: In Search of Maharal prof. Byron L. Sherwin, Ph.D. (Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago): The of Prague and His Ancestors prof. PhDr. Peter Demetz (Yale University): Rabbi Loew and His Golem in German Literature prof. Jindřich Toman (University of Michigan): Renarrating the Rabbi and His Golem in Czech PhDr. Arno Pařík (Jewish Museum in Prague): Maharal and the Golem in Art prof. PhDr. Petr Wittlich, CSc. (Art History Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences): Šaloun's Monument to Maharal doc. PhDr. Ivan Klimeš (National Film Archives in Prague, Charles University in Prague): Bringing the Homunculus to Life. The Golem in Film and Theatre

4. CATALOGUE OF SELECTED ITEMS Manuscripts and Archival Documents Printed Books Paintings Drawings Graphic Sheets, Maps, Vedutas Photographs Sculptures Textiles Metalworks Medals Varia

Bibliography: Daniel Polakovič List of Illustrations: Eva Kosáková and Alexandr Putík Contributors: Alexandr Putík Glossary: Olga Sixtová Name Index: Olga Sixtová

Supplements Map of Ashkenaz in Maharal's Time, Plan of the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague (Daniel Polakovič) Genealogical Tree of the Bezalels Family (Alexandr Putík) Epitaph of Maharal and his Wife Perl