Forgive the precise details of this rendering as it’s been eight years since I’ve seen the film, but this scene played and replayed in my head for years. And it was thinking about this scene that I experienced my very first orgasm – seven years later.
Allow me to explain why my experience with Medurat Hashevet was particularly powerful and strangely how it inaugurated me into the world of adult sexuality seven years after the fact:
1) Secular Israelis are so saturated with mainstream culture that it may be hard for them to understand just how deeply affecting an experience like this could be, but this was the first time that sexuality became relatable to me.
I had not ever been exposed to an environment like the one in the film. Growing up, I was always a “good girl” and had no desire to be promiscuous. I felt little connection to the sex oozing from western cultural influences like MTV. Outright sexual imagery didn’t interest me because I couldn’t relate.
But here – in this movie – was someone like me. And through this scene, the actors presented information in a new way that I could actually digest. A teenage girl from a dati li’umi environment going to a B’nai Akiva event on Lag Ba’Omer? Quadruple check! The sexual energy, hunger and lust of the scene set in a familiar environment felt real and translated back into my own life. Whereas a secular person may not have thought twice about the scene, these images were incredibly powerful given my religious and cultural milieu.
2) Losing myself in the campfire scene gave me permission to feel sexual. After all, Tami didn’t actually want any of what they were doing. She was dressed tzniusly, she was attending a wholesome event and she didn’t have a real choice in what happened because they forced it on her. She couldn’t be blamed for participation. And by extension, I couldn’t be blamed for vicariously experiencing the scene and my own sexuality.
It was in this state of “blamelessness” that my mind was freed to explore the hidden realms of sexuality that had been kept from me for so long. I would replay this scene in my mind. Sometimes I would play the role of Tami. Sometimes I would be an observer. Occasionally I would let my imagination take the scene even further and become aroused as I saw the things that these boys would do to her. But for years – whether I was physically touching myself or just day dreaming and thinking about the scene – there always got to a point in the fantasy where things would feel “too intense” and I would stop – pleasured and aroused but shy of orgasm.
Celebrating 10 Years & Marking the End of An Amazing Project
Celebrating 10 Years & Marking the End of An Amazing Project
I stepped out of my comfort zone to be a part of this. I was glad to open up the topic of sexuality in my community. We are trying to build a safe space to talk about sex. The result I am most happy about coming from this event is that hopefully now my friends know they can come and talk to me, that I can be their ‘safe space’.
Jewrotica was everything I had dreamed of and more: sexy attendees, tantalizing confessions, and well-written literature to boot! More importantly, it empowers us Jews to reach inside and own our sexy selves and heritage!
What an incredible night Jewrotica was!!!! There was this fantastic moment, in a sea of Jews of all sexualities, ages, backgrounds and denominations, that I realized we were all in this together! I hope that there are many more events coming to Austin soon!
The people behind Jewrotica are quite quality! I have confidence that any project these folks take on will be equally quality.
I had a great time deejaying at the Jewrotica event at Columbia University. The live readings were hilarious, informative, and in some cases, deeply moving. I know that I, along with many of my AEPi fraternity brothers, loved being able to connect our Judaism and our sexuality in a way that made all of us feel comfortable and welcome. I look forward to being a part of this again in the future!
Jewrotica is awesome. It expands the mind and for people who were raised with narrow views on sexuality. Whether you are Jewish or not, or in different sects of Judaism like Orthodox, Conservative or Reform, no matter what your background or where you’re from, Jewrotica gets you to see Judaism and how it relates to sexuality in new ways. I really appreciate Ayo being here and helping us learn different ways to connect with our sexuality.
I’m into Jewrotica. I went in for my second circumcision.
The Jewrotica event “Evening of Jewrotica: Bedside Reading” was awesome. As Master of Confessions, I got to read the deepest, darkest secrets of people in the room out loud… It was scintillating, titillating, and – yes – even educational!
Jewrotica rocks. It’s funny, it’s informative, it’s sexy, it’s interesting. Check it out!
My opinion on Jewrotica is: It’s sexy. It’s awesome. It’s Judaism to the next level. It’s what we should all be getting into!
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