Taking Our Voices Back: The Legacy of Dinah

On December 2, synagogues around the world will read Parshat Vayishlach (Genesis, 32:3–36:43), which includes the story commonly referred to as “The Rape of Dinah.” We read that Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, “went out to see the daughters of the land. Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her; and he took her, and lay with her by force.” (34:1–2). Jacob hears of the event, but does…