Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bereshit/0/en

Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bereshit

Rejection and Crime

In East of Eden, author J. Steinbeck speaks of the universal nature of the Kayin and Hevel story:

"I think this is the best-known story in the world because it is everybody’s story… The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt—and there is the story of mankind."

The theme of "chosenness and rejection" repeats throughout Sefer Bereshit.  Do all of those who are rejected react in the way described by Steinbeck?  Is it possible for rejection to be used as a catalyst for positive actions rather than negative?

In the story of Kayin and Hevel, does Hashem even reject Kayin, or just his offering? What about either Kayin or his gift was displeasing to Hashem?  Finally, why does Kayin take out his anger on Hevel rather than on Hashem?  See Kayin's Sacrifice Rejected and Kayin – Intentional or Unintentional Murderer.

Technology and Morality

The enigmatic tale of Lemekh and his wives touches on many issues including guilt and the power of repentance, the downsides to polygamy, and the dangers of technological advances.

• What is the worse penalty - a guilty conscience or a physical punishment? See Seforno's take on this question in his analysis of Lemekh's Monologue.
• Is there any correlation between technological advances and the morality of a society? How often does scientific progress promote ethical behavior?  How often does it lead to its deterioration? See how Ramban, HaKetav VeHakabbalah and Cassuto address these questions in their reading of Lemekh's Monologue.