It is uncommon for the Torah to mention the birth of daughters—but it does tell us about Dinah’s birth. However, when Yaakov splits his family into two camps he does not mention Dinah, which is odd because in last week’s parsha we heard of her birth. Rashi tells us where she was and why she wasn’t mentioned. Rashi cites a midrash that Yaakov put Dinah in a box and locked her up because he was worried she would end up with Eisav. He did not see the potential Eisav had in changing, and that was why he was punished. Although Yaakov was trying to protect his daughter, he did not see the capability of both Eisav and Dinah. Dinah, along with all women, have a power of persuasion and can change even the worst of people into the best. It is hard, but women are capable—and had Dinah ended up marrying Eisav she could have changed him for the better. Women throughout Tanach have had an exceptional hidden role, which means we have it too. We need to use that power, even if it is from the sidelines, to help make the world a better place.

By Shira Sedek