Shabbat - Parshat Vayishlach

December 2, 2023
19 Kislev 5784

Rabbi on the Portion

Dinah Part II: Abuse, Abandonment, Betrayal

Hello Everyone,

Please excuse my obsession this month with the Biblical Dinah.

She is barely mentioned in the Torah, yet I am now devoting a second video to her.

Dinah's centrality to the Genesis stories is illustrated more by her absence than by her presence-and no rationalization for such absence will satisfy me.

In my weekly video I share sentiments about how Dinah's characterization defines not only life in antiquity but contemporary life as well.

Dinah represents many women in society.

Yet, after October 7, Dinah represents how society is now failing Israeli women. I dare say such a failing is not coincidental, but part of an emerging pattern of public and global anti-Semitism.

In the video below, please be prepared for a disturbing theme.

May the Dinahs of today never be forced into silence.

May Israeli and Jewish Dinahs never be abandoned...

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Klayman