Intimate Judaism

In his recent analysis of the "#MeToo earthquake," Rabbi Avi Shafran, Agudath Israel of America's director of public affairs,  bemoans the "supposedly enlightened, progressive, post-patriarchal society, with its proud claim to value and respect women," and questions how we can expect men to respect women who dress and behave immodestly. In contrast, he asserts that sexual abuse is "relatively rare...

Many couples await the wedding night with anticipation and excitement, as they are finally permitted to express their desire for one another and to consummate their relationship.  For some couples, however, the wedding night, and sometimes the weeks and months thereafter, can be a source of anxiety and distress, and represents an obligation they struggle to "perform successfully." How do couples n...

Intimate Judaism's most recent episode, 'Shomer Negiah: Premarital Sexual Activity and Jewish Values," generated plenty of comments, discussion, and disagreement. In this bonus episode, Talli Rosenbaum and Rabbi Scott Kahn address listener comments, and expand on the differences between guilt and shame, whether a person "has to" consult a rabbi before making a Halachic decision, the consequences o...

As human beings, we are wired for connection, and the desire for intimate touch is a natural instinct. However, Jewish Law is clear that premarital sexual activity, even when it doesn't involve sexual intercourse, is forbidden. How do we manage that tension? Do we acknowledge that the halachot of refraining from touching the opposite gender are  not universally observed, and discuss openly which p...

Preparing our children so that they grow up to be healthy, independent, and happy adults requires giving them the right messages at all stages of their development. What is the connection between growing up in a safe and secure environment, and the ability to experience pleasure in the context of marital intimacy? Why is it necessary to avoid judging our children, even when we disagree with their...

Almost all parents try to raise their children in a manner that both reflects the parents' moral values, and gives children the necessary tools so that they lead fulfilling and emotionally healthy lives. This is certainly true in the Halachic community, which must balance the messages children hear from the ourside world with the Torah values they are taught at home and in school. How can we achie...

Halachic sources state that male masturbation is unequivocally prohibited under Jewish law. This prohibition, however, often creates serious conflict and guilt in the religious and private lives of young Orthodox men, with consequences ranging from experiencing feelings of hypocrisy, to dropping out of Orthodoxy altogether, to skewing their perceptions of what marriage is supposed to be. In this e...

Discover Intimate Judaism, where a rabbi and therapist discuss intimacy, sexuality, and relationships in the context of Jewish family life and Torah observance. We raise conflicts and challenges, and offer candid solutions, while remaining firmly within the bounds of Torah and Halacha.