Torah for this Hour | December 12, 2024

This Shabbat, as we read the story of Shechem raping Dina, communities across Israel will be dedicating this Shabbat to Dina and her legacy that calls on us to address sexual violence.

Dina’s story is an important cautionary tale –in that it reminds us that sexual violence is perpetrated against those close to us, and in its reminder that sexual violence is perpetrated close to home, and sometimes even in the home.

On Shabbat Dina, we all take it upon ourselves to do two important tasks:

1. To recognize that we have victims of sexual violence among them. To believe them. To take action.
2. To take whatever action is necessary to protect all people in our spaces. So that Dina’s story becomes a mitzvah – a commandment that we do the work so those near and far from us are safe from sexual violence. In our communities, in our places of work, in Israeli society and in the entire world.