In this week’s Parsha, Dinah the daughter of Yaakov was snatched by Shechem and violated. Her brothers, Shimon and Levi avenged her honor and rescued her. Where did Yaakov and Dina go wrong that they were subject to this terrible incident? Chaza”l explain that when Yaakov and his family were returning from the house of Lavan and knew that they would encounter the wicked Eisav, Yaakov hid Dina in a box so that the Rasha would not cast eyes on her and desire her. This was wrong. Yaakov with his holy vision should have realized that Dina with her high spiritual level would have been a worthy match for Eisav to inspire him to completely turn his life around for good! Such was the potential of Dina! Because they didn’t utilize this opportunity to elevate Eisav (which she surely wouldn’t have lost out from marrying him), they suffered this consequence.
In a similar vein, There was a fellow named Navos hayizraeli in the times of the Beis Hamikdash, the Holy Temple. He was gifted with a magnificent voice and the power of song. Each year during the Festivals he would sing in Yerushalayim and thousands upon thousands of his fellow Jews would listen and be inspired to great heights. One year, he decided that he wasn’t in the mood. Many Jews were let down because of this. He met a bitter end when the evil king Achav and his wife Izevel conspired to take his beautiful vineyard which they coveted, by framing him (with false witnesses) as having committed a capital offense!
Each one of us is a reservoir of vast untapped potential! Hashem gave us these gifts in order that we can work for the betterment of mankind (and ourselves). Take the plunge, “Get out there, and show them what you’ve got!”

By Rabbi Sharaga Thav
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