Questions tagged [sexuality]

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. Also note that, like Wikipedia, this site makes no guarantee of validity, and does not offer professional (particularly rabbinic) advice. Treat information from this site like it came from a crowd of your friends.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
7 votes
2 answers
406 views

What is an overview of Judaism's arguments against the "unconscious violinist" analogy used to support abortion in the case of rape?

I am looking for the response of any denomination that is against abortion in the case of rape that has also responded to the scenario below or something similar to it. "A Defense of Abortion" (...
3 votes
0 answers
944 views

Besides mishkav zachar, what is sexually forbidden between consenting non-Jewish males?

Vayikra 20:13 forbids anal intercourse according to Rashi who describes the offense as "inserting a paint stick in a tube." Since non-Jews are not generally subject to laws asur mi'd'rabbanin, no ...
2 votes
2 answers
598 views

May a normally impotent Jewish man marry if he can use Viagra?

This is a question regarding the marriageability of a Jewish man who knows he has ED. Does the Law say he must still be naturally capable of sexual intercourse without chemical assistance in order to ...
3 votes
0 answers
58 views

Is a bat kohen who has relations with a pasul (not marries) then forbidden from t'rumah?

Is a bat kohen who has relations with a pasul (not marries) then forbidden from t'rumah? I ask this because I'm having trouble understanding Noam Yerushalmi's explanation of Yerushalmi Yevamot 8:6 in ...
  • 111
-1 votes
1 answer
215 views

Are Pilgashim used as "place holders" in a man's life?

Is it normal for a Jewish man to have a pilegesh to take care of physical needs when he is not yet married? By "pilegesh" I mean a woman who is temporarily monogamous with him for the purpose of sex, ...
6 votes
1 answer
5k views

How often should one have marital intercourse with his wife?

What is the frequency of marital intercourse prescribed by Halacha? I am confused as the Talmud in Ketubot 62a says that for men of independent means it is every day. But the Rambam in Mishneh ...
  • 113
1 vote
1 answer
358 views

Wife's conjugal rights [duplicate]

I understand that a wife has a conjugal rights depending on the occupation of the husband (2 times a week, 1 time a week, on Friday night, one time a month, 1 time in 6 months, 1 time a year) And ...
  • 7,320
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Is it forbidden to watch pornography? [duplicate]

I have heard that pornography is forbidden, but the reasons (most?) seem to be based upon statements in the Talmud that deal with situations where the potential for a sinful encounter may occur, from ...
  • 1,178
3 votes
2 answers
244 views

Is the consequence for rape a small sum?

I read somewhere that the consequence for rape, presuming the man does not marry the woman, is just 50 silver sheckels. This seems like a paltry sum compared to the crime that was committed. Is that ...
4 votes
0 answers
1k views

halachic definition of Zera [closed]

When a couple is having intimate relations, during foreplay, is the clear liquid that emits from the male organ considered Zera? Is a wife permitted to stimulate the male organ knowing that these pre ...
  • 57
1 vote
3 answers
313 views

Is a virgin birth possible according to rabbinic judaism? If the mother was betrothed, is the child a mamzer?

Nothing to do with any other religions, but is there anything in the sources that speak about whether or not a woman could become pregnant without relations? Due to the negative feedback, I can frame ...
  • 1,178
8 votes
11 answers
5k views

Is wasting seed a sin for a gentile?

I know that wasting seed is the worst sin in Judaism and a Jew who committed it is considered very wicked. Yet, I am not sure about wasting seed ? is it a sin or not? I am a gentile wanting to ...
  • 1,955
5 votes
1 answer
178 views

Do any halachot change for a eunuch?

Do any halachot change if a man becomes (or is born) a eunuch? For example is he rabbinically allowed to listen to a woman's singing voice or be exposed to other sexually stimulating things if he is ...
0 votes
2 answers
174 views

Is allowed for a non tohor (unclean) person to read the Tanach?

If a person wakes up but is not sure if what came out of his body is a tiny amount of semen or not. Is he permitted to read the Tanach or study Torah before becoming pure again on the evening?
  • 1,955
1 vote
2 answers
386 views

Does guarding the eyes apply equally in all cases?

When the imperative to guard your eyes is brought about the first thing I think of is a man that is careful with what he sees with regards to immodest women. However, there are other case when this ...
  • 12.9k
2 votes
2 answers
284 views

Is rape considered yehareig v'al yaavor?

Since Deut. 22:25-26 equates rape with murder, would a man be required to give up his life rather than commit rape?
3 votes
0 answers
124 views

Views of the the Rabbis on the organization הוד

What do the orthodox rabbis of different circles have to say about the organization הוד. הוד is a support group for homosexuals trying to reconcile their sexuality with their religious beliefs. Is ...
2 votes
1 answer
329 views

Marital relations if pregnancy is potentially life-threatening?

A while ago, I was poking around the Catholic section of Reddit, since I was curious about how the topic of birth control might be handled within it. In a comment to one post, someone stated that his ...
  • 530
0 votes
2 answers
966 views

What is the tikkun for a unmarried Jewish man that slept with a non Jewish woman with protection?

Chabad.org org quotes: (Deut. 7:3): "You shall not marry them (the gentiles, about which the Bible speaks in the previous verses), you shall not give your daughter to their son and you shall ...
  • 49
-2 votes
1 answer
278 views

Is a Jew required to be married? [duplicate]

Is there a halacha that says a Jew must get married? How serious is it? What if a Jew is not married and remains a bachelor all their life, having sex? Please support your answers from Tanach and ...
-7 votes
1 answer
180 views

Can one aquire regular objects through biya?

The Mishna (Kiddushin 1:1) tell us that one can acquire a wife through money (kinyan), documents (shtar) or biya (intercourse). The first two are commonly used to buy and sell regular objects, but ...
16 votes
2 answers
1k views

Transgender erva

Men's Health magazine has been in the news lately because of a contest in which people can vote on who will be on the magazine's cover. Currently leading in the voting is a transgender person who was ...
  • 24.5k
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Convert in Ketubah

In a ketubah, there are 3 different categories for the woman's status. Virgin, Convert, and woman. Usually one of those statuses is represented on the ketubah, with the appropriate amount in zuzim. ...
  • 9,978
0 votes
1 answer
729 views

Why can't one have marital relations with the light on?

The Gemara forbids relations during the day or by the light of a lamp (Niddah 17a). According to tradition, relations should take place at night and in the dark. Why is one not allowed to have the ...
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Getting back together with a girlfriend after she has dated other guys?

Suppose a young Jewish couple, Bob and Jane dated, and had sex. (Yes, I realize premarital sex isn't ideal under orthodox Judaism, but I am interested in the halachic and spiritual implications given ...
4 votes
4 answers
9k views

Are girls allowed to touch themselves?

I heard the guys aren't allowed to touch themselves because its wasted seed but what about girls. Would that be okay?
  • 57
5 votes
1 answer
177 views

Why two genders?

Why did G-d make it that all animals need both genders to procreate? Couldn't He just make one kind of animal per species and give it the ability to produce children on its own?
4 votes
0 answers
181 views

Process for a rebellious wife?

In the talmud the Rabbis discuss a "rebellious wife" who refuses to sleep with her husband. The husband is given recourse to deduct from her ketubah (marriage contract). This is discussed in tractate ...
  • 171
7 votes
1 answer
400 views

How are voyeurs treated in Jewish law?

Given that voyeurism by Jewish figures has been in the news, I'm curious. How does Jewish law traditionally treat voyeurism (if it does at all)? What is the punishment for voyeurism? Note: I am not ...
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
502 views

Would a violated woman be allowed to remain married to her Cohen husband?

As a continuation from my last question, Would looking away help a Cohen stay Married to his wife?, would a raped woman be allowed to live with her Cohen husband? Would there be room to allow them to ...
  • 6,007
1 vote
1 answer
186 views

How to explain the start of Parsha Pinchas to bar/bat mitzva kids

How do you go about dealing with the adult nature of the beginning of the Parsha Pinchas to kids aged 12 or 13? Any on-line material you suggest, suitable for kids this young, on that part of the ...
  • 7,705
2 votes
0 answers
63 views

May a woman think about another man during relations? [duplicate]

I understand the talmud says that a man may not think about another woman during marital relations, does the same prohibition apply to the woman?
  • 281
-1 votes
1 answer
954 views

Where is the story about Elazar ben Durdayah and the harlot?

My rebbe mentioned to us that just as Elazar ben Durdayah was at about to have cohabitation with harlot, she passed gas. The harlot said to Elazar ben Durdayah, "Just as this current of air cannot ...
13 votes
5 answers
9k views

From where do we know that sexual intercourse with a non-jewish woman is forbidden?

From where do we know that a jewish man cannot have sexuel intercourse with a non-jewish woman? What say the Kabbala about this ? Is it related to dark forces, "qelipoth"?
  • 1,550
4 votes
2 answers
453 views

Prishus in Jewish Marriage

I know that there is a concept of prishus (going beyond the letter of the law, and abstaining from things that are really allowed) within Jewish marriage, but what exactly does this constitute, and ...
  • 6,596
11 votes
1 answer
582 views

Is a homosexual male obligated to try everything to change his orientation?

Given that homosexual relations is a biblical sin, I would like to know if a Jewish male homosexual has an obligation to try to change his sexual orientation (as opposed to just not acting on his ...
user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Why doesn't dam chimud (seeing each other at the wedding) ban relations the first night?

The Gemara said that when someone asks another to marry, there's a concern for dam chimmud. That's why chosson & kalla shouldn't see each other during the week before the wedding. But they see ...
  • 83
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are there any Jewish groups that check for a newly married woman's virginity?

This question follows from: What are “the tokens of virginity”? Are there any Jewish groups then and now that check for a woman's virginity say by laying out a garment when marriage is first ...
  • 303
8 votes
4 answers
16k views

What are "the tokens of virginity"?

In Deut 22:13-21, there is a mention of a spurned young wife's "tokens of her virginity", that her own father or mother can "take and bring out". What were "the tokens of virginity" that parents of a ...
  • 303
2 votes
0 answers
202 views

Kedusha during relations

I have heard that the highest potential for kedusha and the highest potential to experience or perceive yichud Hashem is during relations. 1- Is there a source for this idea? 2- Assuming that this ...
  • 9,449
1 vote
2 answers
274 views

Why create lust?

Why did G-d create lust (i.e. boys and girls)?
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why was Yitzhak "laughing" with his wife openly?

Rashi on Bereshis 26:8 indicates that Avimelech saw Yitzhak sleeping with his wife. A) Why were they having relations during the daytime? B) Why were they having relations in a way that others could ...
6 votes
0 answers
272 views

Should I be giving a get to my girlfriends after a breakup? [duplicate]

I have some knowledge of Jewish law, but it seems ambiguous to me in some areas, either because there are differing opinions, or no one has really explained to me the reasons for the opinions to be ...
-3 votes
5 answers
741 views

Jewish Marriage and Pleasure

The perspective of a Jewish Marriage is to have children. However, is one allowed to have intercourse for pleasure?
0 votes
1 answer
617 views

Having a girlfriend

Is there anything wrong with a young man who is not looking to get married having a girlfriend? Assume that he would not touch her or have sex with her.
1 vote
1 answer
193 views

Can a Ba'al Qeri act as Shaliahh Tzibbur?

The question arises in the Halakhah (Qitzur Shulhhan Arukh, Yalqut Yosef, Orahh Hayim 88:1) as to whether a Ba'al Qeri (one who has recently released his seed) is permitted to read Qeri'at Shema' and ...
  • 7,383
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Condoms and forbidden relations

If one wears a condom, since it prevents actual "skin-to-skin" contact, would this prevent forbidden relations? I am not asking about wasted seed, but just the relation itself. Thank you
  • 111
3 votes
2 answers
565 views

Why am I told specifically not to uncover my father's nakedness?

I was flipping through Yevamos and saw that it said that the Torah does not explicitly state that one is prohibited from having relations with his daughter. I checked out the relevant passage in the ...
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

When can one have light in the room during marital relations?

According to tradition, relations should take place at night and in the dark. The Talmud forbids relations during the day or by the light of a lamp (Niddah 17). Are there circumstances where having ...
  • 20.7k
2 votes
1 answer
916 views

Is it permitted for a couple to have relations during the daytime?

Is it permitted for couples to have relations in the daytime if they are tired in the evenings?

1 2 3
4
5
7