WRJ Voices: Vayishlach

I chose to highlight the story of Dinah, which occurs in the middle of parashah, Vayishlach. After Shechem, a Canaanite prince, rapes Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, Jacob is indecisive about their marriage. Dinah’s two oldest brothers respond by killing all the Shehemites, so that the marriage does not occur. They do not want her to marry outside of her own people. Genesis 34 reaffirms the importance, at that time, of marrying the “right” person within the family. It further illustrates the importance of the mother and wife and not only the father, in determining a person’s destiny (as stated by Tammy J Schneider in The Torah: A Women’s Torah Commentary). Resourceful women are central to the book of Genesis. Women are key because they shape their family’s destiny. They secure the continuity of the family and perpetuate God’s blessings.

No one in the Torah asks Dinah what she wants, what she needs, or how she can be comforted. She, as some around the world today, did not have a voice. There are women still today being assaulted and yet they are punished as being the ones to blame. We may never hear from women and girls of our generation who are victims of violence whose voices are not heard. Dinah’s story challenges us to go further and to be the voices of all of our sisters around the globe.

Women of Reform Judaism, in our many advocacy programs, teaches us to stand up for all women and their rights, and to express ourselves and defend what is just. We must never give up this fight, as we are fortunate to live in a democratic part of the world and others do not have this freedom. We must never forget that our voices and actions are stronger when we act together.

In my many years involved in WRJ and especially the last two years while I was Pacific District President, I met women from all over, with varying backgrounds and upbringings. One of the main commonalities among all of us was the importance we place in having a voice to do what is right and just.

Along my WRJ journey, I met Anat Hoffman several times. She impressed upon me the importance of the work of Women of the Wall. When I visited Israel, I proudly brought my WOW Tallit with me. I stood at the wall and put my prayer for peace into the wall, but still felt slighted when I had to go to the smaller women’s side of the wall. With our WRJ YES Fund donation to WOW for prayer books used by women praying at the Kotel, we have made a special difference, but it is a beginning and not an end. I wore my WOW tallit when I attended my granddaughter’s temple here is California as she became a Bat Mitzvah, and then my grandson’s as he became a Bar Mitzvah, and I felt pride for all we have accomplished and continue to accomplish as Women of Reform Judaism.

Our future youth need to know about the stories in the Torah, such as this one, which tell what happened to Dinah. These stories remind us to promote tolerance in our society and to use our united voices to further our Jewish values here and around the world to make a difference. As women of Reform Judaism, we are stronger together!

Phyllis Bigelson is WRJ Pacific Districts immediate Past President and proud WRJ board member. Phyllis is a member of Ahavat Shalom in Northridge, CA.