The theme that "genesis" isn't in origin, but as an event that begins something, is a premise that I can identify with and spoke to me throughout the book. I have lived in several countries and in many cultures: rural, city, suburban and even in a collective for a large part of my life. Each time it was the end of one thing and the beginning of other. Each one was difficult, but frankly I feel sorry for those who born and die within a five mile radius and never experience anything different. This is especially sad in the United States where young people rarely travel and older ones refuse to experience new cultures even if it means just crossing the city/state line.
When I finished the book and started writing my thoughts a song which I liked by famous poet Naomi Shemer rang throughout my head. The song is about new beginnings and uses the word "genesis" or "bereshit" to signify that we can view each and every morning as a new commencement.
Below are the translated lyrics:
The Party's Over
And sometimes
the party is over
The lights go out, the trumpet says
goodbye to the violins.
The last watch kisses the third,
to wake up tomorrow morning
and start from the beginning
To wake up tomorrow morning
with a new song in our hearts
to sing it with strength,
to sing it with pain.
To hear the flutes in the free breeze
and to start — from the beginning.
From the beginning,
recreate your world in the morning
the earth, the plants and all the lights
and then from dust, in the likeness of humans
wake up tomorrow morning
and start from the beginning.
Even for you
the celebration is over,
and at midnight
the road home
is hard for you to find.
From the darkness we ask --
to wake up tomorrow morning
and start from the beginning.
Adam and Eve is one of those books which I liked more after I finished reading it and thought a bit about the storyline and message.
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