This is Torah, and I Must Learn

In an essay on Parshat Ki Tetse (the weekly Torah portion) by Lord Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, he speaks about the evolution of an ideal society. After leaving Egypt – a huge accomplishment unto itself – the Israelites had a number of wars to fight, but it was important not to see those wars as the only end. The true end goal of the Israelites was not to win wars or capture land, but to build a new society, to create a new dream. Yet the reality of the civilization is acknowledged – the Torah addresses what happens when soldiers want to take captive women for their own pleasure, or when parents and children mistreat one another, for “Ki Tetse does not address a society of saints. It is a programme for the real world with all its failings and conflicts.” (79)

The Torah has a very subtle approach to ethics because it understands that Judaism exists within the span of human time, for “the Israelites were commanded to create an ideal society. But this is the work, not of a day, but of many centuries.” (80) Judaism takes a long time to uproot the cultural practices that preceded it, such as slavery, the pursuit of war and the mistreatment of women. Small steps are taken over the course of history in order to make things better as we go. Perfection cannot be expected right away, but we continue to teach our children Torah principles, even if we no longer keep unwilling women or nail the ears of slaves to the doorpost. We learn Torah for its message of constantly seeking, constantly building an ideal society. “That way, they will continue the journey and take it further. Judaism is about the long slow walk from the real to the ideal.” (81) And slowly, “the reasons that causes human beings to acquire others as slaves lose their legitimacy. Only then can slavery be abolished.” (82)

In this way, the continued conversation about revelation, the meaning of law, the value of text, and yes, Foucault, the conversation surrounding Jewish sexual ethics works to propel us down the path from the real to the ideal. Jewrotica.org functions to do just that, making room for all voices and perspectives in the continued efforts for the creation of an ideal society and an ideal Jewish approach to sex and sexuality.

42 – Goldwurm, Hersh, and Nosson Scherman, Talmud Bavli = [Talmud Bavli] : The Schottenstein Edition : The Gemara : The Classic Vilna Edition, with an Annotated, Interpretive Elucidation, as an Aid to Talmud Study (Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, 1990) Tractate Berakhot, 62a

43 – Smokler, Daniel, “Can There Be a Popular, Morally Compelling, Rabbinic Judaism in North America?” Social Action Exchange: Reflecting on American Judaism, The Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life (New York, NY: 4 Mar 2013) Lecture.

44 – Willis, Ellen, “Next Year in Jerusalem,” Ellen Willis (N.p., n.d Web Mar 2013) .

45 – Proverbs 3:18

46 – Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Bava Metzia, 59b

47 – Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Eruvin, 13b

48 – Sconce, Jeffrey, Haunted Media: Electronic Presence from Telegraphy to Television (Durham, NC: Duke UP, 2000), 4-6.

49 – Sconce (Haunted Media), 7.

50 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 3.

51 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 4-6

52 – Teplitsky, Joshua. “”For This Is Torah, and I Must Learn:” Sexuality and Textuality in Talmud.” Mini Course: People of the Book, People of the Body. The Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, New York, NY. 19 Sept. 2011. Lecture.

53 – Teplitsky (For This is Torah).

54 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 4-6.

55 – Foucault (History of Sexuality) 60-61

56 – “Jewrotica Fantasies – Lilith,” Jewrotica. Ed. Limor Blockman (N.p., 21 Dec 2012: Web Jan 2013) .

57 – Nicholas, Stephen A. “Confession #16 – Southeastern United States: My Rabbi,” Jewrotica (N.p., 11 Feb 2013: Web Feb. 2013) .

58 – Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sotah 17a

59 – Maimonides, Moses, and Eliyahu Touger, Mishneh Torah: A New Translation with Commentaries and Notes (Yerushalayim: Moznayim, 1988) Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 21:9.

60 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 38.

61 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 10-11

62 – Luzzatto, Samuel David, Yesode Ha-Torah, (Yerushalayim: Mosad Ha-Rav Ḳuḳ, 1947) Ch. 43.

63 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 11-12

64 – Genesis 38:15-16

65 – Genesis 30:15-16

66 – Ruth 3:7.

67 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 11-17.

68 – Winkler (Sacred Secrets) 15-16.

69 – The First Abstinence Website for Jewish Teens, Orthodox Union, (n.d. Web Mar 2013) .

70 – Lampert, Simi, “Yeshiva U. Students Can Talk Sex,” The Jewish Daily Forward (N.p., 17 Dec 2011: Web Jan 2013) .

71 – Lampert (Yeshiva U).

72 – Smokler (Can There Be a Popular, Morally Compelling, Rabbinic Judaism in North America?).

73 – Smokler (Can There Be a Popular, Morally Compelling, Rabbinic Judaism in North America?).

74 – Sokol, Moshe Z, “Personal Autonomy and Religious Authority,” Rabbinic Authority and Personal Autonomy, Ed. Moshe Z. Sokol (Northvale, NJ: J. Aronson, 1992).

75 – Ross (Expanding the Palace of Torah) 197.

76 – Ross (Expanding the Palace of Torah) 198.

77 – Ross (Expanding the Palace of Torah) 198.

78 – Smokler (Can There Be a Popular, Morally Compelling, Rabbinic Judaism in North America?).

79 – Sacks, Jonathan, “Ki Tetse: Animal Welfare,” Covenant and Conversation (13 Sept 2008) 1.

80 – Sacks (Ki Tetse) 4

81 – Sacks (Ki Tetse) 1

82 – Sacks (Ki Tetse) 4