Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 22:14:04 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Sacrifices and Forgiveness

QUESTION: Regarding the sacrifices of Kain and Abel.
Why is it that G-d accepted one
sacrifice but not the other?

ANSWER:
Following Rashi this can be answered by comparing the **descriptions** of
the two sacrifices--one description uses **adjectives** while one doesn't.
We have that Kain brought "From the fruit" while Abel brought from "the
**fat** of the **first born** of his flock".

So quite simply Abel brought the BEST of the BEST (Fat of the firstborn)
while Kain did not.

Throughout the sacrifice laws and throughout the prophets there is emphasis
that we should bring THE BEST to G-d---it is because Kain just brought ANY
old sacrifice that his sacrifice was rejected.

Russell Hendel; Phd ASA; Math Towson Univ
Moderator Rashi Is Simple, http://www.shamash.org/rashi/