Judaism Religion and sexuality

1 judaism

1.1 conservative
1.2 orthodox
1.3 reform, reconstructionist , humanistic

judaism

in perspective of traditional judaism, sex , reproduction holiest of acts 1 can do, act through 1 can imitate god, creator , , in order preserve sanctity there many boundaries , guidelines. within boundaries, there virtually no outright strictures, , in fact obligatory. prohibits sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage, maintains biblical strictures on relations within marriage including observance of niddah, prohibition on relations period including menstrual period, , tzniut, requirements of modest dress , behavior. traditional judaism views physical acts of adultery, incest, intentional waste of semen, men having anal sex men, , male masturbation grave sins. judaism permits relatively free divorce, orthodox judaism , conservative judaism requiring religious divorce ceremony divorce religiously recognized. worldwide movements in judaism considered more liberal have rejected jewish law binding rather inspirational , allegorical, adapted perspectives more consistent contemporary western general secular culture.

most of mainstream judaism not accept polyamory, although people consider jewish , polyamorous. 1 prominent rabbi accept polyamory sharon kleinbaum ordained in reconstructionist judaism considers biblical jewish law not considered binding, treated valuable cultural remnant should upheld unless there reason contrary. senior rabbi @ congregation beit simchat torah in new york works independently of major american jewish denomination; r kleinbaum says polyamory choice not preclude jewishly observant, socially conscious life. polyamorous jews point biblical patriarchs having multiple wives , concubines evidence polyamorous relationships can sacred in judaism. there email list dedicated polyamorous jews, called ahavaraba, translates big love in hebrew. (its name echoes ahava rabbah prayer expressing god s abundant love .)

conservative

conservative judaism, consistent general view halakha (jewish law) binding guide jewish life subject periodic revision rabbinate, has lifted number of strictures observed orthodox judaism. in particular, in december 2006, conservative judaism s committee on jewish law , standards adopted responsa presenting diametrically opposed views on issue of homosexuality. adopted opinion restricting prior prohibition on homosexual conduct male-male anal sex only, declared biblical prohibition, declaring other prohibitions (e.g. male-male oral sex or lesbian sex) rabbinic, , lifting rabbinic restrictions based on interpretation of talmudic principle of kevod habriyot ( human dignity ). while declining develop form of religious gay marriage, permitted blessing lesbian , gay unions , ordaining openly lesbian , gay rabbis agree not engage in male-male anal sex. traditionalist opinion, upholding traditional prohibitions on homosexual activity, adopted majority opinion, approach permits individual rabbis, congregations, , rabbinical schools set own policy on homosexual conduct. reflects profound change prior blanket prohibition on male homosexual practices. acknowledges sharp divergence of views on sexual matters within conservative judaism, such there no single conservative jewish approach matters of sexuality. conservative judaism straddles divide between liberal , traditional opinion on sexual matters within contemporary american society, permitting both views.

conservative judaism has maintained on books variety of requirements , prohibitions, including requirement married women observe family purity laws , general prohibition on non-marital heterosexual conduct. family purity laws require women recognize tumah or niddah during menstrual period. tumah, woman wait 7 days menstrual cycle end , 7 clean days in order enter mikveh , begin sexual relations. during time, forbidden have type of contact niddah, touches not touched , no physical contact permitted. on same day committee on jewish law , standards released homosexuality responsa, released multiple opinions on subject of niddah including responsum lifting traditional restrictions on husband-wife contact during niddah period while maintaining prohibition on sexual relations. permissive responsum on homosexuality used conservative movement s approach niddah analogy construing biblical prohibition against male homosexual conduct narrowly , lifting restrictions deemed rabbinic in nature. responsum indicated making practical analogy between approach in male homosexual couples on honor refrain acts , approach niddah:

we expect homosexual students observe rulings of responsum in same way expect heterosexual students observe cjls rulings on niddah. expect interview committees, administrators, faculty , fellow students respect privacy , dignity of gay , lesbian students in same way respect privacy , dignity of heterosexual students.

the responsum enjoined young people not promiscuous , prepare traditional marriage if possible, while not explicitly lifting or re-enforcing express strictures on non-marital heterosexual conduct.

even before responsum, strictures on pre-marital sex had been substantially ignored, in official circles. example, when jewish theological seminary of america proposed enforcing policy against non-marital cohabitation rabbinical students in 1990s, protests cohabiting rabbinical students resulted in complete rescission of policy.

conservative judaism formally prohibits interfaith marriage , standards indicate expel rabbi performs interfaith marriage. maintains variety of formal strictures including prohibition on making birth announcements in synagogue bulletins children on non-jewish mothers , accepting non-jewish individuals synagogue members. however, interfaith marriage relatively widespread among conservative laity, , conservative movement has adapted policy of being more welcoming of interfaith couples in hopes of interesting children in judaism.

conservative judaism, of 20th century largest jewish denomination in united states declined sharply in synagogue membership in united states 1990s, 51% of synagogue memberships in 1990 33.1% in 2001, of loss going orthodox judaism , of rest reform. fracturing in american society of opinion between increasingly liberal , increasingly traditionalist viewpoints on sexual , other issues, gap between official opinion , general lay practice vis-a-vis more traditionalist , liberal denominations, may have contributed decline.

orthodox

there several levels observance of physical , personal modesty (tzniut) according orthodox judaism derived various sources in halakha. observance of these rules varies aspirational mandatory routine across spectrum of orthodox stricture , observance.

orthodox judaism maintains strong prohibition on interfaith sexual relations , marriage. orthodox judaism, alone of jewish denominations, retains relatively mild traditional disabilities on divorce, including biblical prohibition on kohen (priestly descendant of aaron) marrying divorcee or woman has engaged in types of sexual misconduct. these strictures, while observed, regarded matters of personal status rather morality. orthodox bill of divorce required divorce recognized.

reform, reconstructionist , humanistic

reform judaism, humanistic judaism , reconstructionist judaism not observe or require traditional sexuality rules , have welcomed non married , homosexual couples , endorsed homosexual commitment ceremonies , marriages.

reform , reconstructionist judaism more tolerant of interfaith marriage, , many rabbis in both communities perform one. humanistic judaism permits interfaith marriage. reform, reconstructionist , humanistic judaism not require religious divorce ceremony separate civil divorce.

it has been speculated more tolerant attitudes of reform, reconstructionist , humanistic judaism towards both sexual diversity , interfaith marriage may have contributed rise in popularity during 1990s, 33% of affiliated households 38%, making pass conservative judaism largest jewish denomination in united states.