NOTE: Please respect that in the Jewish tradition certain questions, especially certain questions relating to sexuality, are discussed only in private. Such questions will be closed or deleted at the discretion of the moderators or community.
3
votes
1answer
221 views
How did a virgin decide upon her marriage in Israel 2000 years ago?
About 2000 years ago in Israel, was a virgin free to choose her future husband (or even to decide whether to marry or not marry at all) or she was absolutely submitted to the will of her father?
5
votes
1answer
162 views
Are cholim obligated to please their wives?
To me it is clear that if (G-d forbid) a person is sick to the point that it will kill them, or that (G-d forbid) they will get their wife sick, there's obviously no obligation to please their wife ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Does the act of masturbation cause a change in one's spiritual/religious status vis-a-vis what he may and may not do?
Obviously masturbation is a very serious sin. However, if someone has already transgressed that sin, does his status change vis-a-vis things like learning Torah or davening? Does he need to go to a ...
7
votes
1answer
392 views
Does casual sex establish a marriage?
Do premarital sexual relations effect Kiddushin (betrothal/first step of Jewish marriage) if there is no intention of getting married?
If so, is the physical act itself determinative of whether or ...
15
votes
1answer
351 views
Do Jews need to care about non-jewish homosexuality?
Since there is currently no way and/or need for Jews to administer capital punishment to gentiles who violate the 7 noahide laws, is there any halachic reason for a Jew to care whether or not a ...
16
votes
6answers
2k views
What does Judaism think about homosexuality?
Is being gay a sin? Can one be a Jew and a gay person at the same time? How does the Jewish community think about gays?
-4
votes
3answers
364 views
Is Sex Outside Marriage Still a Sin After the Invention of Paternity Tests?
I asked something like this. The reasoning if I can remember:
You should not sell your daughter as prostitute.
Rambam said that all sex outside marriage is prostitution.
Therefore sex outside ...
8
votes
1answer
76 views
mating prevention as Tza'ar Ba'alei Chayim
Does anyone know whether keeping an animal of one sex as a pet is considered Tza'ar Ba'alei Chayim or not, since it cannot mate?
10
votes
2answers
641 views
Does Judaism consider virginity to be a virtue?
Wikipedia outlines the attitudes of various cultures towards virginity including:
Judaism
In Judaism, sex is not considered to be sinful. Though premarital sex is disapproved, there is no ...
0
votes
3answers
737 views
Is the “Jewish Political Action Committee” a recognised authority?
Members of this organisation attended a protest against marriage equality in New York alongside Westboro Baptist Church and the National Organization for Marriage.
To what extent are the actions and ...
6
votes
2answers
323 views
Why does the Talmud assume a woman cannot get pregnant on the first act of intercourse?
There is a rule in the Gemara (Yevamot 34a) that אין אשה מתעברת בביאה ראשונה. The question is why the Talmud assumes that a virgin cannot conceive on her first act of sexual intercourse if the hymen ...
5
votes
2answers
345 views
Sources for Hassidic views on marital celibacy/asceticism?
My understanding is the traditional view of Ger Hassidism was that marital celibacy was a good idea, once all procreative needs had been met.
My impression is that Chabad-Lubavitch never advocated an ...
3
votes
3answers
599 views
Homosexuality is “worse than murder”?
A sign at a recent rally protesting New York's 2011 Marriage Equality Act reads
Judaism considers male homosexuality a worse sin than murder
I imagine that this is a minority opinion, but does ...
3
votes
2answers
285 views
are homosexual relations forbidden by God? Why?
To my understanding, Bible says that God does not like homosexual relations. But why? Why did God punish and destroy inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah? They were not Jewish and were not given the laws ...
1
vote
2answers
659 views
Why does the Rambam (Maimonides) equate all sex outside marriage as prostitution?
Shalom told me about it in his answer to this question:
What does adultery mean in the 7th commandment?
That Si'naf in 7 commandments means only having sex with someone else' wife. However, judaism ...
31
votes
5answers
2k views
What is the halachic source for objection to gay (civil) marriage?
New York State is considering legalizing gay (civil) marriages, so tonight on our answering machine we received a message urging us to pray that it doesn't pass because gay civil marriages were, you ...
