Genesis 34 Respect Others Space
The Torah shares lessons drawn from the tragic story of Deenah, the daughter of Leah [and Jacob], in Genesis 34. Our Sages teach Deenah left the security of Jacob’s home without a guardian. She was a vulnerable, attractive young, extroverted woman alone in a new town. Deenah was kidnapped and raped by Prince Shechem. She was victimized and broken into many pieces. Where were the outcries of justice for Deenah?
The men of Shechem responsible for adjudicating The Seven Laws were giving a pass to Prince Shechem. They were not going to hold him accountable for Deenah’s abduction and rape. Does that sound like America? After committing that horrible crime, he continued to hold Deenah hostage. He had no intention of releasing her. Instead, he requested that his father smooth things over with Jacob and his sons. Shechem is not remorseful for his awful and violent behavior.
The Torah forbids kidnapping and rape!! Our Rabbis discuss preventative actions that parents should follow to help guard our children. Still, our discussion focuses on INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY!! First and foremost, Prince Shechem was responsible for his actions!! Unfortunately, he did not maintain self-control!! His evil inclination got the better of him. What has happened to individual responsibility in America? What’s has become of our standard of righteousness? Liberal America refuses to prosecute predators and violators. What has happened to personal responsibility in America? Each individual’s self-responsibility is paramount. Prince Shechem was a predator who lacked self-control.
In the 21st century, Bible Observing people have permitted borders between people to become murky. Where have our moral standards gone?
Each of us has the responsibility to live within our own space. We begin by determining our space. At the same time, we must be respectful of other’s space. Some do not want to be hugged or kissed, etc. It is inappropriate to touch, squeeze, pinch, grab or intentionally brush against another’s sexual organs! From time to time, we may find it necessary to inform others about the parameters of our space.
Some individuals like to hold hands, give and receive hugs and kisses, and place their arms around others. To them, this is love and being loving. Some want and need comfort from another’s embrace. Each of us is different. Often conflicts draw us together or push us apart.
I have a friend who is waiting in the afterlife. May he rest in peace. For a short time, he touched others while talking with them. He would touch your arm, leg, shoulder, or your hand to keep your attention. He was a loving man who entered other’s space with his touch.
Our Rabbis teach:
• Deenah was extroverted.
• She was friendly, beautiful, and outgoing.
• Deenah wanted to socialize with local women.
• Jacob hid her in a chest to prevent Esau from seeing and marrying her.
• Like mother like daughter – Leah went out, so Deenah went out.
We need to be modest and careful to guard personal space. We should be mindful of our thoughts. Do we constrain our thoughts and minds from entering another individual’s space with stairs, desires, lusts, and imaginations? Do we mentally violate other individuals? Or do we look away and redirect our thoughts? How do we employ our thoughts and our words?
The Lord Says, ‘My Thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.’ Isaiah 55.8 We must be on guard 24/7 with our thoughts and actions. We should not take advantage of others just because we can.
Jacob had two wives and two midwives who bore him twelve sons. Only Leah bore Jacob, a daughter. The Torah focuses on Deenah being the daughter of Leah. Can we imagine what being the only daughter among twelve brothers was like? Leah bore Jacob Six sons and one daughter. Jacob’s servant wives each bore him two sons. So Holy Scriptures identify Leah as the hated one [Genesis 29.32 – 33], She is the one who finds favor in The eyes of The Lord [Genesis 30.17]. The sons were Jacob’s sons, but Deenah was Leah’s daughter. The Torah is drawing attention to that. Leah is going to have another son.
Leah judged that as unfair to Raquel because she would have only one son while the handmaidens would each have two sons. In Leah’s judgment, Raquel would be diminished in the eyes of Jacob’s maidservant wives. So Leah prayed for Raquel to have a second son and for her to have the only daughter instead of a seventh son. Our sages teach that their sexes were transformed in the womb because of Leah’s prayer. That is why the Scriptures states, ‘And afterward [Leah] bore a daughter and called her name Deenah.’ Genesis 30.21. Deenah and Zebulun were twins. The Torah does not mention the conception of Deenah because she is Zebulun’s twin.
Deenah’s name points to a prophecy for a future judgment, i.e., Din that came after she was abducted and raped by Prince Shechem. Simeon and Levi adjudicated the kidnapping and rape of their sister by killing all the men in the kingdom of Shechem.
דִינָה בַּת־לֵאָה
Deenah, daughter of Leah
ד4 י10 נ50 ה5 ב2 ת400 ל30 א1 ה5 = 507
שָׁבְרָה
Broken
ש300 ב2 ר200 ה5 = 507
I feel a great deal of love and pain as we draw to the conclusion of Chapter 34. The Patriarch, Jacob, has the supreme goal of keeping his twelve sons alive and together because they are the future nation of Israel. Jacob is a white-haired diplomat who is focusing on keeping the peace between the people of Shechem and his sons, even at the cost of sacrificing the honor of his daughter Deenah. Jacob seems willing to sacrifice Deenah’s individual space and their family space to keep peace with the people of Shechem and other neighboring nations. Does it seem like Deenah is expected to take her kidnapping, rape, and victimization for the sake of peace? The Holy Scriptures Make it clear that this did not go over well with Deenah’s brothers, As noted above Mystically we note, Deenah, daughter of Leah was broken. Simeon and Levi. Dear Reader, there is a great deal more to this story than meets the eye. Unfortunately, we cannot delve into many of the essential details. That is for another time. However, we are going to discuss several attitudes surrounding Jacob’s expectations.
One must inquire, What was Jacob’s attitude towards women? After all, he purchased his wives Rachel and Leah as if they were property. He loved Rachel and hated Leah. They are times Jacob lacked sensitivity towards his wives, daughter, and sons.
Rachel pleaded with Jacob, ‘Give me children; otherwise, I am dead.’ The Holy Scriptures Say, ‘Jacob’s anger flared up at Rachel.’ and he said [to her], ‘Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?’ [Genesis 30.1 – 2] Ramban Questions Jacob’s response. ‘Don’t the righteous pray on behalf of others? Elijah and Elisha prayed on behalf of a strange woman! [1Kings 18,2; and 2 Kings 4.33].’ Ramban states that Jacob’s response was insensitive. The Midrash states that our Creator questioned Jacob, ‘Is this the way to answer an aggrieved person?’ Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1292 As a result, the children of Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah are destined to stand humbly before Rachels son Joseph.’ Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Stone Edition Tanach (Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 1993), p. 351Second Edition p 154
We must ask how any father bargains away the honor of his lovely daughter? How about his granddaughter? After Deenah’s rape, she bore Jacob a granddaughter. Her name was Asnat. Jacob’s sons actively discouraged their father from allowing Asnat to live in their home, so Jacob placed his granddaughter under a bush and left her to Divine Providence. None of this feels right to me. Deenah And her daughter are both victimized and abuse by their own family. How could this be? These actions don’t feel like what The Perfect Torah of Lovingkindness Teaches.
Genesis 34.25 – 29
It came to pass on the third day, when they were sore[from their circumcision], that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon, and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. They slew Hamor and Shechem, his son with the edge of the sword, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the town, and that which was in the field, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and they took their wives captive and carried off all that was in their houses.
Genesis 34.30 – 31
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have brought trouble on me to make me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and I being few in number, they shall gather together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. [Simeon and Levi, said to their father, Jacob], ‘Should [Shechem] deal with our sister as with a harlot [a promiscuous woman] ?’
We discussed the relationship struggles of this great patriarch, this righteous man, this tzaddik. WHAT ABOUT US? What about the work that we need to be doing? How to how do we interact with those that are close to us? Do we have some fences that need mending? Do the walls of our homes need purifying? What about our attitudes? Do we invade the Sanctity of other’s space with our words and comments? Do we attack and break down the fragile walls of other’s space?
May The Lord Bless us in our daily walk and may we stay within Torahs guidelines. May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.
Good Sabbath!
Dr. Akiva George Belk
