As we start the Torah over again, it is important to look at
old stories with fresh eyes as new discoveries are always lurking. This year, I
took an in-depth look at the first quarrel of mankind between two
brothers. Although we find relationships
between groups to be complex, those overt differences are not necessary. There
is plenty to fight about within the family, which is sadly all too common as well. The first criminal act between two people occurs
between two brothers- Kayin and Hevel.
It is a short story but telling to what is the source for much conflict.
A short
summary of the story is that Kayin decides to bring a sacrifice to G-d, and he
brings produce from the field. Seems fairs given he is a farmer. His brother,
perhaps, stimulated by Kayin’s actions brings a robust offering of a choice
animal. Seems fair given he is a herder. Yet, G-d only turns to Hevel’s
offering and ignores Kayin’s. But isn’t this unfair? Kayin is giving of his own
work and it was his idea in the first place? How could he be spurned so badly?
As usual,
certain textual details point us in the direction of what really went
wrong. When it says Kayin decided to
bring a sacrifice it says, “At the end of
days, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil”.
It doesn’t explain at the end of what days?
One commentary explains that what happened is that Kayin was devoted to
the land and growing crops. Yuval Harari
in Sapiens makes it clear that agriculture is a ‘fraud’. It promises riches,
but it enslaves us to the process. In contrast to his contemplative brother who
was the shepard who has time for contemplation like many of our future leaders.
However, even Kayin who has lived a life devoted to materialism either gets old
or realizes he will one day pass on, and thinks that he should play a token
tribute to spirituality. But a token contribution is not what G-d is looking
for since that is checking a box, not creating a relationship.
Kayin
then makes a further mistake in his perspective. Not only did he treat
spirituality lightly, but he also thought that life is a zero sum game. If
Hevel has ‘won’, then he has lost. If Hevel is greater than him, then he no
longer exists. Furthermore, Hevel only ‘won’ because he cheated. He stole Kayin’s
idea. For that reason Kayin takes the drastic action that he does because he didn’t
have an identity without it. From this
episode we need a new perspective on life. First, we need to put our best into
spirituality and second we need to realize the answer to Kayin existential
question, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper’?
Are we competing or cooperating together in this world. And the answer
is a resounding cooperation.
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