Sex+and+Judaism

Scott M. Bacalar

Sex & Judaism **History of Sex and Judaism** Judaism has been one of the oldest religions throughout the world that has used sex to procreate to uphold the sacred value of sex. The expression of human sexuality is considered to be the first mitzvah in the Torah. A mitzvah is considered to be an act commanded by God or an ethical deed that is carried out based on the religion of Judaism. There are some general rules that are followed as guidelines among the majority of the Jewish population on sex in society. The first rules is that sex may take place only between a man and a woman meaning that intercourse among an animal or one’s own sex is forbidden (Slonim, 2004). The next rule is that sexual relations are not condoned with someone who is outside of the Jewish religion or considered a relative. The next rule is that sex is considered a religious duty within a proper Jewish marriage and premarital sexual relations are frowned upon and cheating on one’s partner is considered a crime in the Jewish religion. The last general rule is that sexual relations within marriage must accord with the respect to the menstrual cycle of the wife.

**Meaning of Sex in Judaism** The focus on Jewish law helps to establish a strong marriage by providing sexual satisfaction and excitement throughout the life of the wedded couple. The religion of Judaism differs from most religions because of the different philosophy approach towards sex that is accepted as part of the religion. This philosophy throws out the idea that sex is a necessary sin and refutes that sex is a mindless pleasure. According to Lamm from Chabad, “Jewish marriage is not designed for the ethical management of the sexual drive, nor is it a concession to human weakness.” This helps formulate that we are supposed to be able to control our own sexual urges in order to become a complete person. If we fail from these urges for committing acts of sexual violations of assault or rape then we are considered to be impure. The Torah, the sacred religious book of Judaism, encourages the Jewish community to procreate. The law of halakhah protects the right of every woman to have sexual satisfaction in times when pregnancy is not the main objective of sex (Zimmerman, 2005). The husband has a duty to satisfy the sexual desires of his wife which is the obligation that a man has to his wife. This responsibility is known as the onah and revolves around the wife letting her husband know whenever she wants to engage in sex and the husband always has to fulfill her sexual desires. The Jewish religion created a way to separate couples from having sex by adhering to the practice of niddah so the husband does not get tired from his wife (Friedman, 2005). The niddah is the separation from the husband from his wife once the wife is believed to be going through her menstrual cycle. The niddah starts when the wife is aware that there is blood coming from her vagina. According to the Jewish religion the female is considered to be impure during this time and there should be no sex at all. Sexual relations can only happen when there has been no blood from the women’s vagina for seven straight days. It is argued that this is apparent because the Torah has the need to increase the affection between the wife and husband through not being able to have sex for a period of time. This is meant to recreate the feelings of happiness that happen on the wedding day when it is the first time that the couple is supposed to engage in sex. The niddah serves as a means of abstinence to protect a couple from having too much sex to prevent unhappiness or a loss of intimacy. The end goal of the niddah is to increase love in the relationship in order to recharge the sex that goes on.

**Different Branches of Judaism:** **Orthodox** This sect of Judaism follows the traditional interpretation and application of the laws that are in the Torah. Followers of this sect of religion tend to be conservative by the religion being based from the traditions of the past. There is a prohibition of staring at the reproductive areas of the opposite gender. This helps prohibit the creation of wicked thoughts. Looking at pictures or scenes that are sexually arousing is frowned upon and should not occur. There is a prohibition on being able to touch a person of the opposite sex in an arousing manner. Spouse’s are not supposed to erotically hug or kiss in public and should do this behind close doors. A male should have no sexual contact or touch his wife when she is going through niddah (Wineberg, 2001). Males or females should never have privacy with a person of a different sex who is not the spouse or relative. Men should never secrete semen in vain which means men should not masturbate because they are wasting their seeds of life. Masturbation among women is considered to be a vulgar act even though there is no secretion of semen. The use of birth control is only acceptable in very few situations. Orthodox Judaism maintains the goal of a strong prohibition on sexual relation between different religions.

**Conservative** This branch of Judaism is consistent with the view of following Jewish law, but is subject to change by the Rabbinate. In 2006, an opinion was developed to prohibit only homosexual conduct between males and males having anal sex. The previous prohibitions among male oral sex or lesbian sex were lifted for rabbis or congregations to set their own homosexual conduct. The niddah had the restriction of husband to wife contact lifted while maintaining the absence of sexual relations. The idea of pre-marital sex has also been ignored among this branch of Judaism. There are more exceptions that are allowed for when birth control can be used. There is an increase of interfaith marriages among this branch and now welcomes interfaith couples on the clause of being able to teach the children Judaism.

**Reform** Reform Judaism is the last branch of Judaism that does not follow traditional sexuality rules. This means that non married and homosexual couples are being welcomed in to the community. Rabbis will perform an interfaith marriage which does not happen among the other two branches. Pre-marital sex takes place among followers because of the liberal view on this branch. Followers are able to decide on their own if they want to use birth control. This branch has picked up popularity in recent times because of the diversity among sexes and the formation of finding a partner of a different religion.

**References** Friedman, Avraham. (2005). // Marital intimacy //. Linden, NJ: Compass books. Lady, M. (2011). Birth Control Pills. Retrieved from [] Lamm, M.. (2011). Jewish Insights Into Marriage. Retrieved from Http://www. Chabad. Org/library/article_cdo/aid/465160/jewish/jewish-insights-into-marriage. Htm.// // Slonim, Rivkah. (2004). // Total immersion //. Vestal, NY: Independent. // // Wineberg, Sholom. (2001). // Eternal joy //. Brooklyn, NY: Siechhos in English. // // Zimmerman, Deena. (2005). // Jewish Family Life //. Brooklyn, NY: Lambda Publishing Inc.