在犹太人的民间传说中，指一个被赋予生命的偶像。它现在的涵义源自中世纪，那时产生了许多关于术士的传说，这些术士能够以一道符咒，或把字母拼成一个神圣的字或神的名字，而赋予一个雕像生命。早期的假人故事中，假人往往是一个完美的仆人，唯一的缺点是在执行主人的指令时，过于死板或机械化。后来假人被赋予犹太人被迫害时的保护人的性格，但仍然是一副吓人的面孔。

 In Jewish folklore, an image that comes to life. From the
Middle Ages stories were told of wise men who could bring clay effigies to life
by means of magic charms or sacred words. Golems began as perfect servants,
whose only fault lay in fulfilling their master's commands too literally or
mechanically. Later golems were imagined as protectors of the Jews in times of
persecution, but also had a frightening aspect.

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