how to say “raw material” in Hebrew

starting in Tel Aviv end of August
Levels 1 and 2 intensive – afternoon, evening
Classes in other locations will be announced soon.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Golem of Prague – perhaps you’ve even been to the Central European city and heard the tales still told by the locals, five centuries after the events were supposed to have taken place.


What does Golem – גֹּלֶם (GOH-lem) mean in Hebrew?




I like to make my own טְחִינָה – tahini (teh-KHEE-nah). To do so, I must either grind sesame seeds myself or buy them ground… but still raw.

Raw sesame-seed paste is called *טְחִינָה גָּלְמִית (teh-KHEE-nah gohl-MEET).


And raw material is called חֹמֶר גָּלְמִי (KHOH-mehr gohl-MEE).


Thus a גולם is a raw person, and the legendary Golem of Prague a person made of raw materials. In Mishnaic times, a person considered crude or – raw in their behavior – was considered a גולם.


* Note that the kamatz symbol  ָ is pronounced oh in this case, as opposed to the more common ah in Modern Hebrew.