This Shabbat, Jews around the world will read parshat Vayishlach, recounting the tragic story of Dina’s kidnapping and rape by the local chieftain’s son, Shchem.

As a victims’ advocate, I hear Dina’s story echo with the voices of the many survivors I’ve been privileged to support. Over the last two years, I’ve noticed fresh perspectives as we’ve collectively witnessed increasing depths of depravity.

The text alludes to deep pain and anger. The voices we hear, such as Shechem and Dina’s brothers, stand in sharp contrast to the important voices that are missing.

Many early commentators and contemporary scholars discuss Dina’s notably absent voice throughout the parsha. Her thoughts, feelings, and wishes are never a focus or even mentioned.

In our advocacy work at Magen, we frequently talk about the importance of amplifying survivors’ voices. Too often, survivors are talked around, about, through and over. For me, and I imagine for many of us who hold values of equality, equity, and victim empowerment, reading the story of Dina’s assault without ever hearing from Dina herself is jarring and difficult to process.

However, as with every story brought down in TaNaCH, we also need to remember the context and time period in which these events occurred. Women’s voices are rarely heard directly in the Torah, and with that in mind, it is difficult to know whether Dina’s silence is a reflection of that reality or something deeper.

But several commentators highlight another silence, that of Dina’s father, Yaakov. When he was informed of his daughter’s rape and public degradation, he barely responded, even after his sons returned home, negotiated with Chamor (Shechem’s father), and then sprang into (highly debated, violent) action. The pasuk says “ve-hecherish”, a term which implies a complete and total silence (1).........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)