This week we read about the argument between Kain (Cain) and Hevel (Abel) which results in the first murder in history when Kain kills Hevel. The narrative which describes the cause of their argument raises some fundamental questions, and offers us an invaluable insight into the correct understanding of our relationship to Mitzvot generally. The Torah explains (chapter 4, verses 3 – 5) that both Kain and Hevel brought offerings, or gifts, to G-d. Kain, a farmer, brought an offering from his fruits. Hevel, a shepherd, gave from his sheep. Ostensibly then, both did an almost identical thing – they offered some of their produce, be it fruit or sheep, to G-d as a gift....

B-reishis – Bet Reishit, 2 beginnings. Every beginning has a beginning that precedes it – indeed in our daily prayer we talk about G-d placing a soul “within me” – what is me? My existence before my existence – personality, life mission. Before we are ready to start out on a new path, open a new chapter, we need to open ourselves first – be there in our minds and commitment before we’ve begun the journey to that goal. And the most sure-fire way of guaranteeing our constant openness to new beginnings is to focus, daily, on our character development through the study of mussar and introspection. As the verse reminds us “Good is the end result from (because of) its

"Vay’gareish es ha’adam vayishkan mikedem l’Gan Eden es ha’Keruvim v’es lahat hacherev hamishapeches lishmor es derech eitz hachaim" (Bereishit 3:24)

After Adam and Chava sin by eating from the fruit of the tree of knowledge, Hashem exiles them from the garden of Eden and places Keruvim, wielding fiery swords, at the gate to insure that no human ever attempts a forbidden return. Rashi comments that these Keruvim were angels of destruction. Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein, author of Aruch HaShulchan, notes that this would appear to contradict a later comment of