Cain and Abel: from the Holy Torah to the Kabbalah of Envy

Abstract

This study departs from the book of Genesis episode of Cain and Abel reported in the Holy Torah. The basic isotopies are maintained in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible; however there are interesting disjunctive elements, because of the episode is longer. Then, through a search on a “beitsêfer” (Jewish bookstore) we found a book of the respected Rabbi Nilton Bonder dealing with the Kabbalah of Envy, in which this negative sentiment is treated within the Kabbalistic assumptions giving a more modern view of the family conflict narrative.