Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine

30/01/2025

Originally written in Russian in 2011, the short story “Mansion over the Town Fields” is an incisive investigation into the hypocrisies and antisemitism underlying the heart of that era’s Occupy Wall Street Movement, by the late, great Jewish-Russian refusenik author David Shrayer Petrov z”l (1936-2024).
TO READ THE FULL STORY, VISIT: https://greengolemmag.com/2025/01/30/mansion-over-the-town-fields/

The story demonstrates Shrayer-Petrov’s remarkable talent for nuance: it is equal parts heartfelt and cynical, and not a single word could be adequately described with any label but “genuine”. With the student encampments of today, the failed, decade-stale movement David investigates here has never been more relevant. Most of all, it does what any good piece of prose fiction must do: its characters come alive on the page.

David Shrayer-Petrov (z”l), writer, medical scientist, and former refusenik activist, was born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in 1936, immigrated to the United States in 1987, and died in Boston on June 9th, 2024. He published twenty-six books of poetry, fiction and nonfiction in his native Russian. Shrayer-Petrov’s books of fiction in English include collections of stories such as Jonah and Sarah, Autumn in Yalta, Dinner with Stalin and Other Stories, and the novel Doctor Levitin.

Maxim D. Shrayer (translator), the author’s son, is a professor at Boston College and a bilingual author and translator. Shrayer is the author, most recently, of Kinship, a poetry collection.

Charis Nwaozuzu (illustrator) is a tattoo artist out of Oklahoma. She is a Jewish member of the Cherokee Nation. She believes that storytelling through art is deeply rooted in both of her cultures, and is excited to be passing that tradition down to the next generation as well.

14/01/2025

"An Unorthodox Golem" by BARD

A modern golem, crafted from materials as humble as earth—air-dry clay and hot glue. Inspired by colorful melted candle wax left behind each night of Chanukah. Roaming the world, mistaken for Bigfoot... or just about to start their stand-up routine?

This piece originally appeared in the December 2024 Chanukah Edition of Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine, available at www.greengolemmag.com/issue-02

BARD is a q***r Jewish mixed media artist and activist in New England.
https://artbybard.wixsite.com/gallery

23/10/2024

“Why is this election different from all other elections?”

To find the full debate, go to: https://greengolemmag.com/2024/10/23/the-zionists-guide-to-the-2024-u-s-presidential-election/

My fellow American Zionists, I promise you: I risk paraphrasing Ma Nishtana for a good reason. This election is not like other elections — in many ways, but most especially for those of us who care about Israel and the Jewish people.

I consider myself an American, first and foremost. This is my country. But I am also a Jew, and when I cast my ballot, I will do so conscious of the effect my vote will have on the present and future of the world’s only Jewish state. Israel is in danger. Jews all over the world are under attack. There are less of us now than there were in 1939. Never forget.

Vote well. Vote wisely. We’ll all have to live with it. Or not.

— Alex Horn, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine

Debate: “Should Jewish and otherwise pro-Israel voters support the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump; or the Democratic nominee, current Vice President Kamala Harris?”

Marc Hennemann is a U.S. Air Force veteran of 21 years of service, including service in the First Gulf War of 1990-1991. In 2016, he was the Republican nominee for Congress in Washington state’s second congressional district. Marc is a Senior Advisory Editor for Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine. He is supporting former President Trump.

Lena Renee Anzarut is the pen name of a Jewish academic currently pursuing her PhD in Anthropology, with a focus on Historical Archaeology. Her research addresses the ways that history reverberates throughout the present. Lena is the Head Poetry Editor for Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine. She is supporting Vice President Harris.

07/10/2024

One year after the October 7th attacks, we remind ourselves that those we lost will be with us forever. Their memories are our blessing. — Green Golem

“Supernova” is a poem by Jesse Aviv Wolfsthal. Jesse is a 17 year-old Israeli Jew living in the UK. He speaks Hebrew and English but writes predominantly in English. Jesse always had a passion for writing, but as he grew older and began to better understand who he was, his poetry became centered around his experiences as an Israeli and as a Jew in the diaspora, especially since the beginning of the war. He believes that art is key to understanding and empathising with our fellow man, and hopes to convey his and his people’s truth through his writing.

Jesse is an editor and junior board member for Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine.

💙🇮🇱

11/07/2024

“With A Strong Hand” is papercutting artwork by Dan Harris. The title is a clever reference to the line from the Torah describing God’s power on behalf of Israel: “with a strong hand and an outstretched arm”.

A statement from the artist:

I think one of the most amazing things about being Jewish is how we trust our ancient traditions to carry us with strength into the future. It goes against what feels to me like the logic of the modern world: that the past is old and antiquated, and should be left behind.

Since October 7th, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Tefillin, one of our oldest traditions, and how it has carried both myself and many friends through the war. I always think of one friend, a hero of mine who wraps Tefillin every day when he climbs atop his tank in the north. I am so inspired by him. I am so inspired by the surge in demand for new sets of Tefillin that has occurred since October 7th, and how many people have felt the call of practicing Jewish traditions as a bulwark against this terrible war.

The idea for this piece first began to form a few months after October 7th, as inspiring images of IDF soldiers wrapping Tefillin in combat began to crop up on social media, and after my own experience wrapping Tefillin with friends at Kerem Shalom Kibbutz when we repaired a mural there that Hamas had destroyed. Iran’s massive missile attack on Israel in April also shaped the type of munition the hand is crushing, along with the text, model number, and the use of the regime’s flag inscribed on the weapon. There are more messages in here if you look closely, but I’ll leave that up to the knowledgeable readers of Green Golem to decipher. The visual style, blocky lettering, and bold colors were drawn from inspirations like Franz Kraus, Otte Wallish, and other Israeli poster designers from the early 1900’s to 1960’s.

Dan Harris is an artist based in New York, specializing in traditional Jewish papercutting artforms, reimagined for the modern era. An ardent Zionist, Dan seeks to use his Jewish art to bring joy, tzedakah and bitachon to all Jews, and to encourage those around him to do the same. He is an Art Editor and Illustrator for Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine.

23/06/2024

BARD’s art series “The Strength of Survivors” is a blend of her most cherished fictional show, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, with the story of her real-life people.

This piece depicts Korra, the Avatar of the sequel series “The Legend of Korra”. Korra is a fierce fighter with a strong sense of morality and justice. She is depicted in an IDF uniform to honor all soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, but in particular the many women warriors who protect Israel every day. Korra is from the Water Tribe, but she defends all the nations of her world. Similarly, the IDF protects all of its citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, and seeks to maintain the safety and dignity of all innocent people.

BARD has always deeply connected with “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and its sequel show “The Legend of Korra”. She appreciates their rich and difficult themes, such as the trials of war; the difficult road to peace; colonization; culture; peoplehood; sovereignty; and more. The theme of indigeneity is subtly tied into the show as well, with references to real peoples such as Inuit and Yu’pik, used to inform the Water Tribe look and story. The story of the Air Nomads, like that of Israel, is a tale of an indigenous people re-establishing their nation in the aftermath of genocide. Reflecting on the series after Oct 7, many of these themes deeply resonated and took on new meaning, inspiring BARD to explore the world of Avatar through an Am Yisrael lens.

BARD is a q***r Jewish mixed media artist and activist in New England.
https://artbybard.wixsite.com/gallery

12/06/2024

“Golem DNA” by Hal Goldberg

The double helix DNA of the Golem is now preserved in marble, and will re-create a new Golem whenever the Jews are in jeopardy. On the top of the double helix is carved the word “Emet”, “truth” in Hebrew.

In the original story of the Golem of Prague, the Golem was activated by inscribing “Emet” on its forehead. To deactivate the Golem, the letter aleph was removed, transforming the word “truth” to the word “death”.

(2001) White Carrara Marble 17" x 11" 13"


Hal has been a marble sculptor for over 50 years. He studied at the Laguna College of Art and Design (Laguna Beach, California) and at the Art Students League (New York), but is primarily self-taught. He carves directly in the stone.

The purpose of Hal's sculptures is to make people think long and hard about the Holocaust. The sculptures are dedicated to one of the most important lessons of the Holocaust - Am Yisroel Chai - the Jewish people will always survive.

06/06/2024

Olam Meshuga: Crazy, Messed-Up, F**ked-Up World
by Jesse Aviv Wolfsthal

It’s always been a fu**ed-up world
although, until I picked up cursing
from my highschool friends, it was a messed up world.
And before that, conversations with my mother
in our mother tongue, it was Olam Meshuga.

Meshuga that I wasn’t allowed ice cream before dinner
and then meshuga that I couldn’t have an iPhone and then
suddenly meshuga that I had to hide my necklace under my shirt,
meshuga that I was treated like a guest in the country I was born in.

What do you call a guest who has overstayed his welcome?
An intruder, an interloper, an infidel perhaps.
Sometimes you call him an Israeli.
I was eleven and my gravest worry was looking cool
in front of girls I knew I were using me,
and now I’m seventeen and my greatest concern
is looking goyishe in front of girls I know will abuse me.

‘Messed up’ doesn’t really do it justice.
It’s fu**ed up, FUBAR, if you will.
A fu***ng Olam Meshuga.

05/06/2024

Lunch
by Julian Alper

Waiting for lunch
By the lily pond
Admiring the lilies
Yellows and pinks
I watch the fish
I hear the frogs
A bright blue flash
A crash, a splash
Another blue flash
A white-throated kingfisher
Flew to its perch
Goldfish in mouth
The bird had its lunch
And I went for mine.

This photo depicts a white-throated kingfisher, photographed near Sarona Market in Central Tel Aviv. The sight of the bird enjoying its meal, near a spot where so many people go to enjoy meals of their own, inspired this poem. Green Golem appreciates the message: humans are a part of the natural world, and we can all find unity within it.

Julian Alper is a nature photographer and nature blogger living in Tiberias, Israel. He made aliyah from Manchester, UK, nearly ten years ago. His photography and poetry focuses on the fabulous flora and fauna of Israel. Two of his poems were published in the Voices Israel Anthology 2023.

Find more of Julian’s work at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/julian-alper/

28/05/2024

“Smile”
by Pesach Rotem
Granted, there hasn’t been much to smile about lately,
what with the war and all,
but when a member of the Turkish parliament named Hasan Bitmez
gives a speech lambasting Israel for its supposed crimes and atrocities
and concludes with a stern warning that Israel will “not escape the wrath of Allah”
and then immediately has a heart attack
and dies,
well,
how can that fail to put a smile on anyone’s face?
God is great.

Source:
www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/turkish-mp-who-collapsed-after-saying-israel-will-suffer-allahs-wrath-dies/

Pesach Rotem was born and raised in New York and now lives in Yodfat in the Lower Galilee. He is a member of the Voices Israel Group of Poets in English and of the Israel Association of Writers in English. His poem "Professor Hofstadter's Brain" was nominated for a Best of the Net Award

Visual Design by Harsh Gattani. Harsh is from India. He is an Editorial Assistant for Green Golem.

21/05/2024

“Breaking News” — a flash nonfiction piece by Erika Dreifus, responding to the immediate aftermath of October 7th 2023.
“It begins with my phone, which it shouldn’t, because it begins on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), and I shouldn’t be checking my phone (I shouldn’t even be awake now, after midnight). I most definitely shouldn’t be surrendering to my social-media addiction, checking the platform formerly known as Twitter even as I can, somehow, summon enough resistance to refrain from actually clicking and typing and posting. Which do I see first? In my memory, it’s a video clip (or is it a photograph?) of a white van (or is it a pick-up truck?), and I see men with guns (or are they rifles?), and the text that accompanies the image is no longer altogether complete, but I see “Sderot” (which I know to be a city near the Gaza border), and I see “terrorists,” and in that instant as I focus on my phone in New York I know (don’t ask me how) that this is no ordinary moment, and that utter devastation lies ahead.”

This nonfiction piece emerged from a memory-focused writing workshop conducted by Writing on the Wall.

Erika Dreifus is the author of Birthright: Poems and Quiet Americans: Stories, which was named an American Library Association/Sophie Brody Medal Honor Title for outstanding achievement in Jewish literature. Learn more about her work at ErikaDreifus.com.

The accompanying artwork to this piece was made by Dan Harris.
Dan is an artist based in New York, specializing in traditional Jewish papercutting artforms, reimagined for the modern era. An ardent Zionist, Dan seeks to use his Jewish art to bring joy, tzedakah and bitachon to all Jews, and to encourage those around him to do the same. He is an Art Editor and Illustrator for Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine.

12/05/2024

“In order for there to be peace in the Middle East, both sides must first agree on the definition of the term. As long as Israel defines peace as the absence of war, and the Arabs define peace as the absence of Israel, there can be no peace.”

“Peace” is an article by United States Air Force veteran Marc Hennemann. To read the full article, visit https://greengolemmag.com/2024/05/12/peace/

Marc Hennemann is an author and former political candidate. A graduate of George Washington University and the University of Oklahoma, Marc is a 21-year U.S. Air Force veteran, including service in the First Gulf War of 1990-91. In 2016, Marc was also the Republican nominee for Congress in Washington State’s second congressional district. He and his wife live in Nevada.

At Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine, Marc is the Political Advisor and Senior Advisory Editor.

In order for there to be peace in the Middle East, both sides must first agree on the definition of the term. As long as Israel defines peace as the absence of war, and the Arabs define peace as the absence of Israel, there can be no peace.      Peace in the Middle East. Peace between…