Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds
alchemists sought for the philosopher’s stone, which would
transmute base metal into gold. They used the holy Kabala in
their study. Indeed, some of them were not even interested in
the stone for its wealthy properties, or because it was to make
them live forever. They wanted knowledge—to know everything.
Myself, I am content to know a little. I do not think men were
meant to know everything. I think such knowledge would burn
us as Semele was burned by Zeus’ fire. However, they said that
they would reach perfection; the stone would make base metal
into gold because gold is a perfect metal. The Kabala, it describes
the works of Creation. There are ten paths, ten branches. It is a
way of describing the world which can be used to call an angel
or a familiar spirit, to make a golem.’
‘What is a golem?’ Phryne was fascinated.
‘A servant made of clay or brass. Rabbi Elijah of Chelm made
one, and it caused him a lot of trouble. He set it to sweep out
his house, and it didn’t stop until he had no house. He sent it
to catch fish and it caught a whole lake’s worth but didn’t bring
them back because he hadn’t told it to—a golem has no mind.
He animated it by writing the word of life on its brow, and killed
it by rubbing out one letter, which means “death”. This is called
the use of the divine names, it is found in the Sepher Yetzirah,
and that is all I can tell you about it, lady, I have taken vows.’
Yossi was apologetic but firm.
‘I have not, and I don’t believe that this is mystical, it’s all in the
book, and it’s philosophy, Yossi, not religion,’ argued Simon.
‘The rabbi says it’s all romance,’ offered Saul. Both young men
looked at him. Phryne was expecting them to squash him, as one
does with little brothers, but both of them, instead, listened.
‘What else does the rabbi say?’ asked Yossi.
Without closing the book, Saul blinked, took a gulp of
Simon’s tea, and recited: ‘It is called Sephirot because it states
that there are ten palaces—that is the Hebrew word for ten,’ he
added kindly, for Phryne’s sake. ‘But the top three cannot be
contemplated by men. The lower seven are populated by angels
praising God always, and through the palaces, from the lowest to