29
votes
From where do we know that sexual intercourse with a non-jewish woman is forbidden?
Not only is it forbidden, but it's a prohibition of such great stringency that, according to most authorities, a Jew must give up his life instead of having intercourse with a non-Jew (see sources ...
- 21.4k
17
votes
Why does Tanac"h frequently use the term for "knowledge" when referring to sexual relations?
Ibn Ezra to Genesis (3:6) suggests that Adam had sex with Eve as a result of eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Therefore, sex is euphemistically referred to as knowledge. Additionally, he notes that ...
- 34.8k
16
votes
Does the talmud promote pedophilia?
TL;DR
It is a misquote. It is talking about the age at which the girl converted, not the age at the time of the marriage. Regarding these sorts of misquotes in general, see this related question. ...
- 16.2k
16
votes
Accepted
Is it considered a good thing that Lot's daughters slept with their father?
There is a certain amount of ambiguity here.
On the one hand, we see that our Sages praise the daughters of Lot, and especially the elder daughter who took the initiative.
Nazir 23a:
אלא משל ללוט ...
- 38.2k
15
votes
Accepted
No Blessing on marital relations?
The Maggid Ta'alumos to the Rif on Maseches Berachos, daf 35a (25a in pages of the Rif) says that we do not make the blessing because she may not get pregnant and then the mitzvah was not fulfilled. ...
- 57.3k
14
votes
Why create lust?
God created within all animals an urge to procreate. Without it, we would just end. (Sanhedrin 64a)
- 95.1k
14
votes
Not finding your bashert is a punishment for doing zera levatala?
The Kabalistic work "Tikunei Zohar" (30a) mentions this as a punishment for a person who has relations with women he should not be having relations with. It is stated there that is that this ...
- 4,109
13
votes
Jewish Marriage and Pleasure
The Sages say yes on Nedarim 20b.
Rabbi Johanan ben Dehavai advocates for a more ascetic approach to sexuality that is rejected by a different Rabbi Johanan in the name of the Sages, who assert that ...
- 8,074
12
votes
Why was Yitzhak "laughing" with his wife openly?
A) Why were they having relations during the daytime?
Where do you see that it says anything about daytime?
B) Why were they having relations in a way that others could see?
The שפתי חכמים ...
- 42k
12
votes
Thinking of another woman during sex
The Talmud (Nedarim 20b) expresses this in a slight riddle.
Says Rebbi: Once should not drink from a cup whilst thinking about
another cup. Based on the verse (Num. 15:39) ‘do not stray after ...
- 232
12
votes
Sex in the world to come
The Talmud (Berachot 17a) states:
העולם הבא אין בו לא אכילה ולא שתיה ולא פריה ורביה ולא משא ומתן ולא קנאה ולא שנאה ולא תחרות אלא צדיקים יושבין ועטרותיהם בראשיהם ונהנים מזיו השכינה שנאמר ויחזו את ...
- 47.8k
11
votes
Accepted
Do the Nine Measures Apply to the Woman?
The Tur indicates that a number of these apply to the woman (EH 25):
Nidah - The woman would at least share responsibility.
Shichrus - This applies if either spouse is intoxicated.
Chatzufa - This ...
- 16.2k
11
votes
Condoms and forbidden relations
Maharsham, Rogatchover Gaon and Rav Ovadia Yosef all rule that even with a condom it is called sexual relations. Interestingly, the Rabbi Dovid Lau (a nobody compared to the heavy hitters mentioned ...
- 5,882
11
votes
Having a girlfriend
R' Moshe Feinstein in Even HaEzer 4:60 writes that it is absolutely prohibited, not just as a nice practice, but involves a Torah prohibition.
Among other points, one thing he writes is that in his ...
- 57.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Did the rights of a Jewish slave owner include having sex with his female slaves?
The master of a female Hebrew slave has the option to marry her either to himself or to his son (with her consent). If he (or his son) does marry her, it is not his right, but in fact his obligation ...
- 23.8k
11
votes
What are reasons of מצוות עונה marital sex?
A woman has a right to receive sexual pleasure from her husband, just as much as food and clothing. See below:
Ra’avad, Ba’alei Hanefesh, Gate of Holiness – selection 4:
:הארבע כוונות אשר המעשה ...
- 4,285
11
votes
Is a Zav allowed to have relations with his wife?
Yep. See Tosefta Zavim 1:9, זב מותר בתשמיש המטה בימי גמרו, and Chasdei David there. Also Yerushalmi Shabbos 1:3, לא יאכל הזב עם הזבה הא זב עם מצורעת מותר, and Pnei Moshe there.
- 7,337
11
votes
Accepted
If your wife requests intimacy in a niddah state, may you refuse?
Pesachim 72b discusses a woman who desires intimacy from her husband, and it is approaching the expected time of her period.
והאמר רבא חייב אדם לשמח אשתו בדבר מצוה סמוך לווסתה
The Gemara asks further:...
- 18.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Aside from the days set aside for impurity, what exactly is a man allowed to do with his wife in regards to intimacy?
As with many issues, there is a variety of opinions on this topic, ranging from generally permissive to strictly limited.
The Gemara (Nedarim 20b), and consequently the Rambam and Rama (Rambam, ...
- 10.2k
10
votes
Kissing and Hugging one's wife
Pischei Teshuva Y.D. 184 #22 quotes the Even Shoham as saying that even though it is forbidden to cohabit with one's wife at the time of her expected menstruation (סמוך לוסתה),
מכל מקום מותרת לטבול ...
- 57.3k
10
votes
Accepted
In a mixed marriage, is a Jewish woman liable for kareit if they have relations while she's niddah?
רמב"ם Hilchos Isurei Biah 4:4 writes
הגויים--אין חייבין עליהם משום נידה
Non-Jews – one is not culpable for violations of Niddah with them …
However (although this wasn't the question), there is ...
- 57.3k
10
votes
Getting back together with a girlfriend after she has dated other guys?
Both the first relationship and the second one would have to be formal marriages (the kind that requires a Get to dissolve) for the prohibition of remarrying your divorcée to come into effect. (ShA EH ...
- 95.1k
10
votes
Which prohibition does one commit when viewing pornography?
You're looking for the verse (Devarim 23:10):
וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע
then thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing.
The Talmud (AZ 20) interprets this (based on context from the ...
- 95.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Does the Torah forbid visiting/hiring a prostitute?
This is not allowed, as stated by the Rambam in Hilchos Ishus 1:4
קודם מתן תורה היה אדם פוגע אשה בשוק אם רצה הוא והיא נותן לה שכרה ובועל אותה על אם הדרך והולך. וזו היא הנקראת קדשה. משנתנה התורה נאסרה ...
- 3,789
10
votes
Is it considered a good thing that Lot's daughters slept with their father?
There was an element of good in the naming as brought out in this story of Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal.
I have edited the story which appears in full at the link. The original is in Igros Moshe vol. 8,...
- 45.6k
9
votes
Why is giluey arayos one of the big 3?
Just to note, 'Giluey Arayos' includes two different forms of sin: incest and adultery. They may have different reasons.
Most societies (agreed, not all) have held these two acts to be contemptuous ...
- 21.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Is it halachically acceptable to discuss Torah concerning sexual conduct in a forum like Mi Yodeya?
Please note that the following answer is not a halachik ruling and should not be read as such. It is a theoretical answer that explores the issue, examining the relevant issues.
With regard to the ...
- 1,491
9
votes
Accepted
Is this aphorism about gentiles as problematic as it seems?
The Rambam in Hilchos Issurei Biah 12:6 holds there is an issue kares,see the chapter in detail. See also the Shulchan Aruch Even Haezer 16 with the meforshim who hold its not only a Rabbinic ...
- 39.5k
9
votes
Can a couple have relations during dangerous times?
The Talmud (Taanit 11a) proscribes marital relations during a famine. (See Tosfot and Rambam regarding if this is an obligation or supererogatory.) The Shulchan Aruch rules this way in OC 240:12 and ...
- 95.1k
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