Nathan Hilu
Adam and Eve
, 2012
Crayon, marker, paper
14"
x 9"
Adam and Eve
shows one possible interpretation of Genesis 1:27, in
which “God created the human beings, Adam and Eve, male and female
in His image.” Rather than two separate beings, Adam and Eve are
depicted as fused together. Considering that Eve emerges from Adam’s
rib in the second rendering of this story in Genesis 2:22, it is fitting
that she is depicted as a literal extension of Adam’s body. The work
suggests that inside primordial man – indeed, every man – a decidedly
feminine element is present; correspondingly, inside each woman is a
masculine presence. While the faces of Adam and Eve look away from
each other, consciously ignoring each other’s existence, their arms
wrap around their collective body.
23
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John Hirsch
Tikvah II
, 1989
Textile
74½"
x 38"
This Memorial Quilt was first
exhibited in 1989 in honor of the
many Jewish people who had died
of AIDS.
Kiddush
,
the prayer over
wine in praise of God, is repre-
sented by the wine colored velvet.
The quilt, bordered by “Jerusalem stone” in the form of
an unbroken chain, affirms the victims’ place in Jewish
history. The
tallit
and candelabra represent both men and
women. The
tzitzit
are directed toward the four corners
of the quilt to indicate the four corners of the world, pro-
claiming that gay Jews, like all other Jews, are connected
to all Jewish people. A portion of the
tallit
is broken off,
representing Jews lost to AIDS. Pinned on the left is
a torn, black grosgrain ribbon (embroidered with
UAHC
AIDS COMMITTEE
)
,
evocative of the ribbon that is cut
and worn on a mourner’s lapel at a funeral. UAHC, the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now known
as the Union for Reform Judaism, links the nearly 900
Reform synagogues throughout North America.
