In Jewish law, sex is not considered shameful, sinful or obscene. Sex is not a necessary
evil for the sole purpose of procreation. Although sexual desire comes from the yetzer ra
(the evil impulse), it is no more evil than hunger or thirst, which also come from the
yetzer ra. Like hunger, thirst or other basic instincts, sexual desire must be controlled and
channeled, satisfied at the proper time, place and manner. But when sexual desire is
satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire,
sex is a mitzvah.
Sex is permissible only within the context of a marriage. In Judaism, sex is not merely a
way of experiencing physical pleasure. It is an act of immense significance, which
requires commitment and responsibility. The requirement of marriage before sex ensures
that sense commitment and responsibility. Jewish law also forbids sexual contact short of
intercourse outside of the context of marriage, recognizing that such contact will
inevitably lead to intercourse. The primary purpose of sex is to reinforce the loving
marital bond between husband and wife. The first and foremost purpose of marriage is
companionship, and sexual relations play an important role. Procreation is also a reason
for sex, but it is not the only reason. Sex between husband and wife is permitted (even
recommended) at times when conception is impossible, such as when the woman is
pregnant, after menopause, or when the woman is using a permissible form of
contraception.
In Judaism, a sexual relationship is only acceptable within marriage. A sexual
relationship is seen as one way in which two committed people can express their love and
it also serves to create children. Family purity is important and during a woman's
menstrual period, she ceases to enjoy a sexual relationship with her husband. A week
later she will visit the Mikveh, a special pool, to be purified and can then resume a sexual
relationship. Most couples enjoy a period of closeness with no physical intimacy.
Orthodox Judaism forbids: Adultery; Incest; Prostitution - although they would hope to
help them to make a more acceptable living; . In the traditional community, (Orthodox)
the Bible's prohibition about male homosexuality is unquestioned. Although some
Reform and Liberal Jews have accepted homosexuality and no Jew will tolerate
persecution of homosexuals. Sexual relations between men are clearly forbidden by the
Torah. (Lev. 18:22). Such acts are condemned in the strongest possible terms, as
abhorrent. The only other sexual sin that is described in such strong terms is the sin of
remarrying a woman you had divorced after she had been married to another man. (See
Deut. 24:4). The sin of sexual relations between men is punishable by death (Lev. 20:13),
as are the sins of adultery and incest. Today most Orthodox and Conservative Jewish
leaders view homosexuality/bisexuality as a sin. Most Reform and Reconstructionist
Jewish leaders do not view homosexuality as a sin. In the non-traditional Jewish
community (Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative) many rabbis and lay people
question the interpretation of the Biblical verses that refer to male homosexuality. Some
rabbis perform commitment ceremonies for male homosexual partners and for lesbian
couples, feeling that commitment to another person and love for another person is a gift
from God, no matter what the gender of the partners may be. These rabbis and Jews who
are gay and lesbian feel that it is God who has created them as gay or lesbian and that to
deny their feelings would be a rejection of God's creation of them.
It is important to note, however, that it is homosexual acts that are forbidden, not
homosexual orientation. Judaism focuses on a person's actions rather than a person's
desires. A man's desire to have sex with another man is not a sin, so long as he does not
act upon that desire. In fact, it could be said that a man who feels such desires but does
not act upon them is worthy of more merit in that regard than a man who does not feel
such desires at all, just as one who refrains from pork because it is forbidden deserves
more merit than one who refrains from pork because he doesn't like the taste.
The basic Conservative position on homosexuality is that homosexuals and lesbians are
welcome to join synagogues and participate fully in the Jewish life of their religious
community. The Rabbinical Assembly as passed numerous resolutions at their annual
conventions decrying sexual discrimination and proudly proclaim their willingness to
accept homosexuals and lesbians as part of the religious community.
However, the Conservative movement--generally--cannot religiously condone
homosexual or lesbian sexual acts, nor can it accept same-sex marriages based on the
relevant Biblical and Rabbinic passages which are relatively unambiguous on the subject.
Neither can openly homosexual or lesbian men or women study for or be ordained as a
rabbi in the Conservative Movement.
Judaism and lifestyle (quotes) Show respect for old people and honour them. (Leviticus
19 v32) ‘Suppose a man marries a woman and later decides that he doesn't want her... so
he writes out divorce papers... In either case, her husband is not to marry her again; he is
to consider her defiled. If he married her again, it would be offensive to the lord.
(Deuteronomy 24 v 1,4)