Deena's Rape

Found 13 Search results

1. Shimon and Levi in Shekhem

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   The rape and abduction of Deena and murder of the entire city of Shechem raises a number of moral issues; however; the Torah is vague about its evaluation of the retribution. This article attempts to evaluate Shechem’s actions in light of the biblical text; in comparison with other similar biblical stories.

2. Ramban on Vayishlach: The Massacre in Shechem

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 40 minutes

   How Could the Sons of Yaakov Do What They Did at Shechem?

   Working with the assumption that the sons of Yaakov were generally righteous, Ramban asks how they could possibly kill a horde of ostensibly innocent people in Shechem, or even act deceptively with Shechem's deal in the first place. To answer this question, Ramban examines what was happening in the story and raises a number of possibilities. He points out that what Shechem did was against Torah law, but also against the law of the Land (and the Seven Noahide Laws)-- but nobody in his town was bringing him to justice. Did that make the rest liable to the death penalty, too? Where the sons of Yaakov seeking to exact justice, or revenge? Were there acts justified, or did they make a horrible mistake, even if they had good intentions? Or was Yaakov's reaction the one that was flawed?

3. "Power of Judgment" – Shimon and Levi in Shekhem

   Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot

   It seems that our central problem in assessing the Torah's position with regard to the deed of Shimon and Levi, is the tension that arises between the story here and Yaakov's words to them at the end of his life.

   From the point of view of Yaakov: if his criticism is indeed so fearsome and it is based on morality, why did he not voice his views at the time of the incident, or immediately thereafter?

   From the point of view of the Torah: how does the Torah judge the actions of Shimon and Levi, and how are we to view them?

   Through a close examination of the story of Dina, we are forced to re-examine this  principal dilemma - the contradiction that arises between the narrative itself, with all its aspects, and Yaakov's blessing – or, more accurately, his curse – to Shimon and Levi.  We propose that the solution be sought by paying attention to the respective locations of the two different evaluations of the act and its significance.

4. The Rape of Dina?

   Rabbi Yoseif Bloch

5. Shimon, Levi, and Jacob: Idealism vs. Pragmatism

   Rabbi Aytan Kadden

6. Shekhem and Dina: Canaanite Conduct

   Rabbi David Silverberg

7. Yaakov's Travels: Shechem After Beit El

8. Lacking Self-Regulation: The Brothers and Shechem

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. Shimon and Levi: Blaming Yaakov?

   Rabbi David Silverberg

10. The Shechem Incident and Yaakov's Patience

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. Vayishlach: Who was In the Right? Inconclusive Messages

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 19 hours

    In this shiur, we analyze the story of Dina, Shimon, Levi, and Yaakov. Were Shimon and Levi in the wrong, or was Yaakov? What should have been the response of Yaakov to his sons actions at Shechem? These are two major approaches, but we seek to demonstrate that the parasha itself is inconclusive. Both sides have points, and each argument has elements that can be supported in the text. We grapple with the competing issues of zealotry vs. Hillul Hashem.  

    What we can concluded is that when we are in difficult moral situations. We must carefully evaluate our actions and verify that we are not motivated by the wrong things and that the actions we are taking are moral, and hope that we have God’s help in making the right decision.

12. Ramban

    Part 1

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman was born in an area in northeast Spain that was heavily influenced by Spanish Muslim culture and by French Ashkenazic culture.  The Ramban’s writings reflect Spanish philosophy as well as the studiousness which characterized Ashkenazic Jewry.

    A poem that the Ramban pens in the introduction to his commentary on the Torah reveals a number of its characteristics: 

    • He intends to offer new interpretations and not to explain the verses sequentially. 
    • When the Ramban does not interpret a given verse, we may assume that he intends to accept Rashi’s approach.
    • It is a wide-ranging, comprehensive commentary, in which the Ramban uses specific verses as jumping boards to general topics.

     

    By viewing two examples, one can observe that the Ramban, in his commentary to a lone verse, may relate to many facets of exegetical, halakhic and philosophical issues; he seeks an explanation which jibes with the details of many wider contexts.  The proof is not local, but wide-ranging, comprehensive, taking in a broad perspective.  One may see also the analytical style constructed, in which the Ramban, in an organized, consistent way, lays out the issues, brings different opinions and deals with them until he develops his own view.

13. Deena in Shekhem - Reassessing the Tragic Events of Bereishit 34

    Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom

    תאריך פרסום: 2022 | | Hour and 6 minutes

    We already know how the stories of Tanach are going to end, and we can’t read them without assuming we understand the narratives we've been taught. When it comes to the story of Deena in Shekhem, we assume it's about rape and abduction. However, If we actually read the text thoroughly, without any preconceptions, we can find a completely different story, one where Deena and Shekhem form a loving relationship and Beni Yaakov unintentionally cause the delay of settling the land.

     

     

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