5758/2024

In Parashat BeReishit, we find the famous story of Kayin, who kills his brother Hevel. If you look carefully at the story, there is something very strange.The Pasuk states “VaYomer Kayin El Hevel Achiv”- Kayin said to his brother Hevel(Bereishit 4:8). Logic would dictate that the end of this sentence would contain the words that Kayin said to his brother. But it doesn’t! In this case, after the Torah tells us that Kayin turned to Hevel to say something, it leaves out what he said. The end of this sentence tells us “ויקום קין אל הבל אחיו ויהרגהו”- Kayin killed Hevel! The question is, why didn’t the Torah tell us what Kayin said in the moments before he killed his brother? Isn’t that strange? It starts to tell us that he said something and then skips right over it!

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks asks this very same question.He explains that this Pasuk contains an important message for all of us. He explains that Hashem created us with the ability to speak and communicate with one another. It is when we choose not to speak and talk things out with others, that anger and violence begins. Rabbi Sacks teaches us that it is imperative that wherever possible, we use our words to resolve conflicts between friends, colleagues, and even world leaders and countries. At the very beginning of the story of the world, right after creation is possibly one of the most far reaching lessons that we can learn if we apply these valuable words from Rabbi Sacks.

Rav Samson Rafael Hirsch takes a different approach to this question, explaining that the first phrase in the Pasuk has nothing to do with the next.  They were conversing in a completely normal fashion while they worked in the field and the idea to kill Hevel only came to him later. This idea leaves me to wonder why would the Pasuk introduce this idea of Kayin speaking at all?

I have an idea that might be able to resolve this puzzle. After examining this Pasuk, and really thinking about it, I believe that this Pasuk comes to teach us an important lesson. In that moment, it didn’t matter what Kayin said to Hevel immediately before murdering him. His actions spoke louder than any words could. The Torah's message to us in this moment is that our actions speak volumes and overtake anything that we say. Chazal teach us that “Lo HaMidrash Ikar, Elah HaMaaseh”.  Anyone can preach, but what really shows who you are as a person is your actions. In other words, Actions speak louder than words.  

As we begin a new year, may we always remember that our actions speak volumes about who we are and that they represent us even more than our words. May we have a year of actions that represent the Middot and values of Hashem's nation.