Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bereshit/0/en"
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<h1>Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bereshit</h1> | <h1>Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bereshit</h1> | ||
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<category>Rejection and Crime | <category>Rejection and Crime | ||
<p>In East of Eden, author J. Steinbeck speaks of the universal nature of the Kayin and Hevel story:</p> | <p>In East of Eden, author J. Steinbeck speaks of the universal nature of the Kayin and Hevel story:</p> | ||
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<p>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?</p> | <p>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?</p> | ||
<p>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 <a href="Kayin's Sacrifice Rejected" data-aht="page">Kayin's Sacrifice Rejected</a> and <a href="Kayin – Intentional or Unintentional Murderer" data-aht="page">Kayin – Intentional or Unintentional Murderer</a>.</p> | <p>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 <a href="Kayin's Sacrifice Rejected" data-aht="page">Kayin's Sacrifice Rejected</a> and <a href="Kayin – Intentional or Unintentional Murderer" data-aht="page">Kayin – Intentional or Unintentional Murderer</a>.</p> | ||
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<category>Technology and Morality | <category>Technology and Morality | ||
<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
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| − | <li> | + | <li>Which is the worse penalty - a guilty conscience or a physical punishment? See Seforno's take on this question in his analysis of <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li> |
| − | <li>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 <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li> | + | <li>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 <a href="Lemekh's Monologue" data-aht="page">Lemekh's Monologue</a>.</li> |
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</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 09:49, 18 June 2017
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:
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.
- Which 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.
