Judaism loves sex

Rebyitzi@yahoo.com (Rabbi Yitzhak Miller) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:21:00 EST

The idea that religion is anti-sex couldn't be more false. Though that belief may be true for Victorian-era Christianity, Judaism takes a very different view.

In this series of articles, we will look at some ancient texts from Judaism regarding sex and sexuality and see just how clearly Judaism loves sex.

Here are some of the texts we will explore:

Frequency of sex: Talmud, Ketubot 61b: Sexual relations are expected daily

A Woman's right to sex: Talmud, Eruvin 100b: A man is forbidden to compel his wife to have marital relations…a woman may divorce a husband who fails to satisfy his wife sexually. Exodus 21:10-11: A man may not withhold 3 things from his wife: food, clothing, or sexual relations. If he fails her in any of these 3 ways, she shall be free of him.

Sex is not just for procreation: Talmud, Ketubot 48a: There must be close bodily contact during sex. This means that a husband must not treat his wife in the manner of other peoples, who perform marital duties in their clothes.

CLEARLY not just for procreation: Mishneh Torah (12th cent), Laws Concerning Sexual Relations 21:9: A man may have intercourse with his wife as frequently he or she desires, may kiss any organ of her body he wishes, and he may have intercourse with her vaginally or anally.

Sex is beautiful: Nachmanides, “Iggeret HaKadosh” (13th cent) God created all as Divine wisdom decreed, and did not create anything ugly or shameful. For if sexual intercourse were repulsive, then the sexual organs are also repulsive…If the sexual organs are repulsive, how did the Creator fashion something anything less than perfect? If that were so, we should find that God's deeds were not perfect.

Sex is not restricted to marriage: I Kings 1:1-4: King David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with blankets, but he could not become warm. His servants said to him, "Let a young woman be sought...and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord...may become warm. They sought for a pretty girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunemmite, and brought her to the king...She attended the king, and performed services for him"

Comments (4)

(Yvonne on 27-Jul-10) I would argue that the concubine is more analogous to American polygamy than to modern prostitution. Putting aside issues of how women in most of those situations are treated, and looking solely at the perspectives of legality and family structure, modern polygamous relationships involve a single legal wife and others who fulfill various family roles, not the least of which is providing "bread in the basket." However, in modern prostitution, a prostitute is by nature of the institution, not discerning about her sexual partner.

It's interesting that these texts refer to concubines and female prostitutes, but no one has tackled polyandry....

(Yvonne on 27-Jul-10) I would argue that the system of concubines is not analogous at all to modern prostitution. In the latter, the woman is "not discerning about her sexual partner." A better analogy would be American polygamy. Putting aside other aspects of polygamy, and looking only at sexual partners and family structure, this system provides "bread in the basket," as well as other familial duties as the family sees fit; nevertheless, there is only one legal wife. Therefore, the others are concubines.

It's interesting that these texts address polygyny, but not polyandry...

(Blake on 13-Nov-11) The last one from Melechim is definately not in context. I'm pretty sure the story specifies that THEY didn't have sex. If they had she would've had the status of a pilegesh or concubine.

(pakistani wedding - [URL] on 09-Jan-12) Living day to day as a control freak isn�"t really that hard. It�"s pretty simple to control what you eat, where you go and what you do. You can boss around your boyfriend to do what you want rather easily. Or he�"ll ignore you, you forget what you told him and you all live happily ever after anyway.