More Than Just a Name on a Page

#parshtvyishlach #parshatvayishlach #breisheet #seferbreisheet #dinah #leah #women #girls #violenceboutwomen

When reading Parshat Vayishlach we read the story of the rape of Dinah by Shechem.

The focus of the narrative is on Shechem's violence toward Dinah, his attraction to Dinah and then we read of the reactions of Ya'akov, the violence committed by Levi and Shimon. What we don't hear is the voice of Dinah. Midrashim are written about her, but where is her voice?

Shabbat Shalom,

Leann

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To Dina,

What is your story?

Who shapes you? 

Who draws the contours of your young hands,

describes the shape of your eyes,

the color of your lips.

Who records your laugh,

recalls your fears?

Dina,

daughter of Leah,

daughter of Jacob,

if we could dig down 

through the dusty layers of history

seen through the bleary eyes of men

and the smudged ink of scholars,

if we could find one tiny scrap that would give you a voice,

your voice,

the sound of a girl blossoming

the song of innocence,

a voice still forming,

barely a woman.

You, Dina, 

one lonely girl among so many men.

If only your voice appeared on the page,

perhaps a window would open

What made you leave on that fateful day,

a young girl curious to see the world?

So many have taken the time 

to invent your story;

a drama focused on those around you,

the supporting cast to your tragedy;

words focused on their glaring weaknesses,

but

Dina,

you are at the center,

and your story is empty.

What made you wander?

Who were you as a sister ?

A daughter?

A teenage girl waiting to smile.

Dina, if I could reach you among the millions,

I would tell you that now we know,

women and girls are more than names

written on a page.

They are more than the violence done to them,

more than what is said about them

by others.

It is not simple.

If I could find you

I would tell you that you are not alone.

Your story is the story of girls,

little girls,

adolescent girls,

women.

Janes and Denises and Monas and Anitas,

Tamars and Lisas and Maries and Carmens.

All ages, all shapes, all colors, all peoples.

There are things, Dina, that still have not changed.

Know,

you are more than just a name on a page.

דִינָה

וַתֵּצֵ֤א דִינָה֙ בַּת־לֵאָ֔ה

אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב

לִרְא֖וֹת בִּבְנ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Now Dinah, the daughter

whom Leah had borne to

Jacob, went out to visit

the daughters of the land.

Genesis 34:1

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For more on Dinah:https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/dinah-midrash-and-aggadah