Intimate Judaism

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.