Violence: Condoned or Condemned
In the story of Shechem and Dinah (Bereshit 34), the text of the Torah seems to be saying that Shechem is willing to do anything to have Dina and a father who is willing to go along with it. They then tell the people of the city that this alliance will be good for them.
What does the Torah want us to learn from what occurs? How are we to view the actions of Shimon and Levi who violate the agreement? Do we view this as violence condemned or condoned? What was the sin of the people of Shechem? Were Shimon and Levi justified? Did they thwart Yaakov's plan?
How does the Torah's introduction to the story (And Dinah the daughter of Leah went out to see the girls of the land) affect our interpretation of the story?
Yaakov condemns the fallout of the Shimon and Levi's action (rather than condemning their act) and we are left with Shimon and Levi justifying their actions with no recorded response from Yaakov (until much later on in Vayechi). On the other hand, what seems to be a negative for Levi (no portion in the land) ends up being a positive (the reason given later on to explain why they don't receive land is because they serve in the Mikdash).
Delivered at the OU Israel Center, February 13, 2019 (8 Adar I 5779)