Question: May a husband and wife with mutual consent (and assuming niddah, seed spilling, etc. are not an issue) use handcuffs or other restraints or toys to spice things up?
[Admininstrator's Note: Related questions can be found on JVO at:
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/question.php?id=67
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/question.php?id=486
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/question.php?id=978
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/question.php?id=1130]
Two words come to mind: HAVE FUN.
As long as this consent is between two sane adults in a healthy relationship and non-compromised state of mind, and as long as there is a way for each party to end this sexual behavior with no consequences, and as long as no one is hurt and no laws broken - what you do in your own private bedroom (or other places for the sake of spicing it up) is your own business. I am not even sure why you would seek a response from a Rabbi about this.
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Question: I am a 52 years old man, raised Conservative, who has had to contend with autism my entire life. Oftentimes it is not the condition which affects me more than it is peoples' attitudes towards it.
For example, back in my early 20's I was back East working on my Master's degree and had ample opportunity to at least consider dating Jewish women. However, the two that I hit it off with dropped me quicker than a hot potato once their parents learned from my parents that I have autism. Back then (30 years ago), it was considered by such families as grounds to be an unsuitable suitor, much like a family history of cancer or mental illnesses also was then in those days.
I had far more successful relationships with women of other faiths who themselves or whose families were a whole lot less judgmental regarding either the fact that I am Jewish OR have autism.
The Jewish families who interviewed me said I was unsuitable for their daughters, and had given me to understand that I was not obligated to marry because my disability had made me expendable, and that my progeny were not essential to maintaining the numbers of their people.
I took them at their word and married out, so I wouldn't live a lonely and childless life. Did I settle? Yes. Because life is unfair, and one can only make the best with what one is given.
I decided that with such a cold reception I would take a cold and hard look at what Jewish life meant to me, and I decided that martyring my chances to be married by waiting for the right one to come, just to sanctify God's name, was far more than I reasonably expected God to ask of me, because the autism issue would come up each and every time I sought a besheret (soulmate/match).
I am asking what Judaism would say to me today in light of the situation I found, and the choices I made.
[Administrator's note: A somewhat related question appears at http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/question.php?id=860.]
As A reform rabbi I would start by saying to you that there is no “right” answer or one absolute truth to what “Judaism has to say” to you today regarding your choices.
You made your choice in the past, and there is nothing you can do today to change the past. So the real question I would ask you today is: “what choices are you making now?” Are you living a Jewish life? Do you belong to a Jewish community? Congregation? Do you practice Jewish Mitzvot and values? Do you work for the betterment of the Jewish people and the world? Do you have a relationship with Israel? If you have children – what are you teaching them?
Throughout history different people made the same choice you did in the past for various reasons. The question is how did that choice effect your life since? There are many in our movement who married out of the religion and still live a full, beautiful and fulfilling Jewish life regardless of the faith of their spouse.
I do not believe that not marrying falls under the category of “martyring your life and sanctifying God's name,” and thus I do not believe that what you did was wrong. As I stated before – the end result of your choice and how you live your life today is what matters and is the answer to your question, which only you know the answer to.
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Question: Is it appropriate for a rabbi (as a religious leader) to discuss partisan political issues either from the bimah or as part of a kiddush program in shul (synagogue) on Shabbat?
This is a very personal question that truly depends on the Rabbi and his or her relationship and covenant with the congregation.
There are Rabbis that strongly believe their role as leaders requires them to address burning issues even if these are partisan political issues. As long as they ground their approach in a Jewish teaching rater than a personal agenda, this is definitely a legitimate thing to do. They follow in the footsteps of great Rabbis that were never afraid to express an opinion even when that opinion could be controversial.
Other rabbis believe that politics altogether should not be brought into the spiritual experience of a Shabbat service and that addressing such issues should take place in special designated program where participants chose to come and listen rather then being a "captive" audience at a Shabbat service.
Both approaches are legitimate and should be adopted through mutual understanding between the rabbi and congregation
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Question: I am a Hispanic male that decided to convert to Orthodox Judaism. My best friend belongs to the Reform movement of Judaism and she told me that Hispanics are not allowed to convert to Orthodox Judaism and that only the Conservative and Reform movements allow Hispanics to convert. I wanted to see what Rabbis from the various movements would say, and if an Orthodox rabbi agrees with her.
Different Jewish denominations do not make any discrimination when it comes to conversion. As long as a person interested in conversion is wiling to follow the guide lines of the specific rabbi he or she is working with, there should be no reason why they could not follow the process.
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Question: I am a Jewish man interested in marrying a Jewish woman. I often ask women why they want to be with someone Jewish and they tell me it would be "easier" or it would make their mothers happy. These to me don't seem like good enough reasons. My reasons are strongly tied to character traits, mainly accountability, that I associate with Jews. What I wondered was what do you consider the biggest and most tangible problems with interfaith marriages?
Marriage requires more than just a deep sense of love and commitment. It requires the ability to communicate, to compromise, to work together towards joint goals and “to love the other as yourself". In an interfaith marriage, both people may subscribe to very different theological ideas and principles. Concepts of heaven and hell, questions regarding issues such as abortion or end of life decisions can lead to significant and painful disagreements. All marriages regardless of faith, may encounter these disagreements. The only difference is that, unlike politics or other values issues, where we may bring ourselves to change our minds, few people can make these kinds of theological adaptations. And so, as in any marriage, when a couple finds it hard to reach acceptable solutions to differences they encounter, in an interfaith marriage one spouse may feel that they had to sacrifice something that is truly important to them. These feelings can damage any healthy relationship. I would have to say that the question of raising children is probably the hardest obstacle to overcome. Agreement needs to be reached regarding the core issues of how children should be raised before the marriage. This may include questions regarding holiday celebrations, religious lifecycle events and ritual participation. In families that can not decide on one religion or the other, the attempt to merge both can create uncertainty, confusion and great strain. In many cases, the fear of facing these challenges has led many to choose 'no religion'. Thus the home is devoid of any meaningful practice. Just as in any other marriage, in an interfaith marriage, it is more than the couple that comes together. Their families also find themselves sharing an enlarged, newly acquired family. Many times it is pressure from grandparents, parents, siblings and other close family members that cause strain on the relationship. While the couples themselves are willing to find ways to compromise, their families may be in strong disagreement, and thus create situations filled with tension. Much of this can, and should be mediated before a marriage, so that the families, enjoying a new sense of enlightenment and respect can thrive.
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Question: There is a big debate in Israel over army service, and whether Haredim ("ultra" Orthodox) should have to enlist. The Haredim claim that they *are* defending the country, by learning Torah. Is it valid to say that defending the country by studying Torah and defending the country by putting your life on the line are truly equal?
This is a very complicated topic. It goes beyond the question about the validity of the claim that defending the country by studying Torah is equal to putting your life on the line are equal.
In historic times we always had different roles for different people when it came to the question of serving the country, the roles are not necessarily equal but having different people playing different roles can be seen as a crucial component of an advanced society.
It is not unacceptable to have a limited number of excellent Torah scholars exempt from military service, and to say that by studying they are contributing to the strength and the well being of the country. They might not be puuting their lives on the line and yet serve an important role is the essence of what it means to have a Jewish state. Remember that not every solider that enlists is “putting their life on the line” as well.
Israeli law gives exemptions for excellent athletes and superb musicians or to people that contribute to the country in different ways then military service. The problem is with the overarching exemption given to all Haredi men declaring they are students.
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Question: I had a career in television and film during which I represented sexual acts in the films. I feel very bad now. I was so unwise in choosing my roles. I wonder if it could possibly all be forgotten or forgiven, as I have suffered foe 30 years since. I wonder if this is a sin, and if so, is it so bad? I fear I will pay for it till my death. What does Judaism say about my situation?
Judaism is a religion that always allows for forgiveness, for redemption and for repentance. We cannot always forget the things we have done but we can always be forgiven for our actions. We are approaching the Month of Elul, in which we start preparing ourselves for the High Holy Days, a period of time in which we are all given the opportunity to engage in the process of TESHUVA, repentance. You obviously feel that what you have done is wrong, regardless if it is a sin according to Jewish law, and thus what is important to remember are the four steps in the process of TESHUVA: First we must recognize our sins, feel sincere remorse, undo any damages and pacify any victims of the offense and finally resolve to never commit the sin again. It seems that you have recognized your actions as wrong, feel remorse and resolved to never choose these roles. You now must ask yourself – did your actions hurt, directly or in directly others? If so you will need to find the appropriate way to pacify any victims. This could be done for example by helping financially or by volunteering with organizations representing values you want to support regarding sexual behavior. Rabbi Jonah Gerondi, taught "The repentant sinner should strive to do good with the same faculties with which he sinned.... With whatever part of the body he sinned, he should now engage in good deeds. If his feet had run to sin, let them now run to the performance of the good. If his mouth had spoken falsehood, let it now be opened in wisdom. Violent hands should now open in charity.... The trouble¬maker should now become a peacemaker". Last but not least, we must learn to forgive ourselves. We must follow the wise words of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch who said, “First become a blessing to yourself, so that you may be a blessing to others.”
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Question: What are the Jewish laws regarding respect and treatment of one's siblings?
What are the Jewish laws regarding respect and treatment of one's siblings?
Family relationships are emphasized over and over again in the Torah and in the Talmud and yet there are no specific Jewish laws regarding the question of how we should treat siblings.
We then need to derive from other Jewish laws regarding this question. Jewish law requires us to always treat other people, including sibilings with respect – what is known as Kevod Haberiyot. We also have the commandment to maintain peace in the house – Shelom Bayit, and to pursue peace – Redifat Shalom, both should be considered in respect to siblings.
The Talmud, Ketubot 103a, teaches that the commandment to honor one’s parents includes the obligation to respect one’s elder brother; respect for parents demands that we abide by their wishes to treat our siblings properly and work towards harmonious family relations and mutual respect between all siblings.
On Friday nights we bless our boys with the blessing that they should be like Ephraim and Menashe. Why those two? Traditionally, the answer has been that Jacob chose to bless them because they are the first set of brothers who did not fight with each other. All the brothers who came before them in the Bible – Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers – deal with issues of sibling rivalry. By contrast, Ephraim and Menashe were friends known for their good deeds.
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