{"id":22182,"date":"2022-04-08T06:51:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T09:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/?p=22182"},"modified":"2024-04-08T06:53:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T09:53:27","slug":"the-prohibition-of-forbidden-sexual-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/en\/the-prohibition-of-forbidden-sexual-relations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Prohibition of Forbidden Sexual Relations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Defining the Boundaries of Intimacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA man shall cling to his wife and they shall become one flesh.\u201d \u2014Genesis 2:24 \u201cOne flesh: the child is formed through the two of them, and in this way their flesh becomes one.\u201d<\/p>Explanation by Rashi<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Meaning<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

One of the most powerful human desires is the desire for sexual fulfillment, which is necessary for procreation and thus the continuation of humanity. But when used destructively, it has not only destroyed the morals of individuals, but it has also been proven to lead to the disintegration of whole societies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hebrew words for man (ish) and woman (ishah) both contain the Hebrew root word aish, fire. The Talmudic Sages drew a correlation between the words: just as fire can be harnessed to produce energy and provide great benefit, but when unleashed it can also bring destruction and ruin, so too, human sexual desire must be kept within the boundaries of a productive and G-dly marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Introduction by Arthur Goldberg, author of \u201cLight in the Closet,\u201d to the section on the Prohibition of Forbidden Relations, in \u201cThe Divine Code,\u201d Part VI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Torah places much emphasis on the value of the family and the furtherance of societies. Wholesome families are the foundation upon which healthy communities, nations, and societies are built. Without a foundation, the mightiest building is bound to crumble. As explained in the Written Torah and Talmud, a main accomplishment of the sexual prohibitions is rejection of unbridled licentiousness that leads to the disintegration of society. The modern vision of morality (which mirrors much of ancient paganism) is often rationalized as a virtually all-permissive, \u201canything goes\u201d social system founded on a concept of universal \u201ctolerance.\u201d Unfortunately, this concept of tolerance is, in actuality, a facade used to mask an agenda of sexual licentiousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History confirms the importance of these Torah lessons. The British anthropologist J. D. Unwin\u2019s comprehensive and classic study of 5,000 years of history chronicles the historical decline of 86 primitive and civilized societies. He found that \u201cthe regulations of the relationship between the sexes\u201d are the very foundation of civilized society.[1] Unwin discovered (contrary to his personal philosophy and inclination as a social liberal) a distinct correlation between increasing sexual freedom and social decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the authentic Torah teachings on true sexual morality are followed, humankind hopefully will not self-destruct. G-d provided a rainbow as evidence of His covenant that He will not destroy the world again. The seven colors of the rainbow correspond to the Seven Noahide Laws \u2013 the foundations of a G-dly and ordered society. But because G-d endowed mankind with free choice, there is the ever-present question concerning whether a society will heed them \u2013 particularly the admonitions of sexual boundaries and proscriptions. These are set forth as a code of laws involving sexuality. If Gentiles live their lives consistent with this Biblical framework of morality, then the rainbow can also represent a multi-level system of spiritual wholeness that enables them to live righteous lives and have a share in the World to Come. This then becomes the opportunity for a covenant between humans, and a basis upon which we can create a world of wholeness and holiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[1] J. D. Unwin, Sex and Culture, Oxford Univ. Press, 1934.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scriptural Sources Five of the six types of relations that are forbidden by G-d to Gentiles are covered in Genesis 2:24: \u201cTherefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife and they shall become one flesh.\u201d This verse explicitly forbids relations with one\u2019s mother, one\u2019s father\u2019s wife, a wife of another man, another male, and an animal. A Gentile is also forbidden to have relations with his maternal sister, which is learned from Genesis 20:13: \u201cMoreover, she is indeed my sister, my father\u2019s daughter, though not my mother\u2019s daughter; and she became my wife.\u201d (Note that Abraham said this to appease Abimelech. It was actually only figuratively true in his case, since Sarah was the daughter of Abraham\u2019s brother. They had the same paternal grandfather, whom people often referred to as \u201cfather\u201d.) It was also universally accepted that father-daughter relations would be prohibited, as evidenced by the disgrace of Lot after he had relations with his two daughters, following G-d\u2019s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:29-36, and Rashi on Genesis 20:1). Relations between females are likewise an abomination to G-d. It is one of the subjects of Leviticus 18:3, which speaks against the immoral practices of the ancient Egyptians and Canaanites, and which Leviticus 18:30 refers to as \u201cabominable traditions.\u201d About this the Midrash specifies: \u201cA man would marry a man, a woman would marry a woman, and a woman would be married to two men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Details and Related Principles<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Adapted from the Table of Contents of the Prohibition of Forbidden Relations, in \u201cThe Divine Code,\u201d Part VI: <\/p>\n\n\n\n