Cain

Found 5 Search results

  1. Why Did God Not Accept Kayin's Offering?

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    Why didn't God accept Cain's offering? Why was He willing to accept Hevel's offering? Rav Hirsch and Hillel Zeitlin believe Cain was rejected for his choice of profession as one who works the land.

  2. The Snake's Sin and Its Punishment

    Rabbi Yaakov Medan

    What was the snake's sin? Hazal and the commentators offered a variety of answers to this problem, including among others: the snake incited Chava; he spoke lashon hara; he seduced Chava; and more. The snake's sin is the source of many of the laws of the inciter (mesit), in particular, we do not search for the merit of the inciter, and he is punished without warning. Apparently the difference between the punishment of man and snake points to the preference of man, who was created "in God's image," to the animal kingdom.

  3. Raising Cain and Hevel [audio]

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 16 minutes

    What do we learn from the story of Cain and Hevel? Is it the story of the first murder in history, or of conflict and competition between men? What does Hevel's name signify? Why wasn't Cain's offering accepted? Was Cain evil? Why was Cain exiled?

  4. Why Didn't God Accept Kain's Sacrifice?

    Dr. Adina Sternberg

    תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | | Hour and 2 minutes

    Cain is known for committing the first murder, but before his crime, the Torah makes it look like he also brought the first sacrifice. What was wrong with his korban? Why did God accept the offering of his brother Hevel, but not that of Cain?  Why doesn't Cain get credit at least for ingenuity?  We will attempt to answer these questions through a close reading of the Hebrew text and an analysis of the theological meanings of the different gifts one might give to God.

    This shiur delves into ideas about what korbanot are, the good and bad aspects of being a shepherd or working the land, and the meaning of ma’aser (tithing) as representing a partnership. In light of the above, the text is re-examined, assumptions are rejected, and penetrating insights emerge about Cain, Hevel, and the mindset behind Cain and Hevel in their acts of offering to God.

     

  5. Shoftim: The Line Between Murder And Apathy

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    In this week's parsha, we are introduced to cities of refuge, a safe haven for one who kills accidentally. Interestingly, we've heard many of the same circumstances before in the narrative section of the Torah, but why? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman gives us a context to understand what lies beyond accidental murder, and how to become more sensitive individuals.

     

     
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