Written by Tomer Persico. Tomer, a first-time Jewrotica writer, is a scholar in the field of contemporary spirituality, specializing in Jewish meditation techniques, past and present. He teaches at Tel Aviv University and the Secular Yeshiva in Jerusalem, writes freelance for different Israeli newspapers and blogs at tomerpersico.com.
This piece has been translated by Ben Greenfield. Ben Greenfield is an alumnus of the Tikvah Fellowship and a writer living in rural Connecticut.
Several years ago, I realized that Kabbalah is one of the most damaging aspects of Judaism. You might find this shocking. This is, after all, our most “secret” esoteric text! Developed in the 13th century (a full century after Maimonides and sixteen hundred years after the Buddha), Kabbalah was supposed to direct people to self-knowledge, to awareness of the divine reality within them. Kabbalah spins a sprawling metaphysical web full of divine entities that are supposedly “out there” and which somehow “bring down” God into our world. The problem isn’t the myth itself… The problem is when the myth is taken literally – and indeed, that is precisely as it has been understood by the majority of Kabbalists. [There are theories that before the Arizal most Kabbalists understood the system figuratively, as a symbolic literature meant to awaken within man the spiritual life.] But that is certainly not so in the present day.
Kabbalah was “internalized” via Hasidism in the aftermath of the tragedy that was Sabbatianism (a tragedy that was truly inevitable if you really understand the Kabbalistic approach – indeed, it is the natural culmination thereof!). And grand theosophic entities were interpreted as personal, psychological elements, resulting in the current Kabbalistic conception that much wisdom can be gleaned from its layers of symbolic meaning.
Of course, this is broad topic, but I’d like to zero in on one part, a relatively small part of the Kabbalistic story which makes for a nice example both of the Kabbalistic worldview and the tragic consequences such a view brings.
A new study by Shilo Pechter on the prohibition against masturbation (lit. “spilling seed in vain”) shows how only with the influence of Kabbalah did this sin become invested with such exaggerated significance. It’s my intent to present some of Pechter’s source-texts, with the goal of summarizing in very broad terms the development of this sin as it passed through the gears of the Kabbalah. If you need support in mitigating the temptation of this sin, pornaddiction.com has some useful information.
Pechter shows how, in the Kabbalistic writings, semen became a human parallel to the “Divine overflow” – such that “destruction of seed” was tantamount to damaging the life-force that emanates from God. For this “human” overflow doesn’t drain away; it joins up with “forces of Impurity,” such as sheidim (demons) and other dark spirits. The Arizal’s Kabbalah describes not just the sins of man, but the Divine dynamic behind them, and thus we find hints of the idea that Creation itself is nothing but the autoerotic emission of the Godhead.
Celebrating 10 Years & Marking the End of An Amazing Project
Celebrating 10 Years & Marking the End of An Amazing Project
Bedside Reading with Jewrotica was funny, sexy, and hot all at once. The readings were honest about all kinds of sexuality, but the highlight of the evening was definitely the confessions, written by audience participants. Nobody knew who wrote them, and most were tell-alls that would make your bubbe blush. Unless your bubbe was very, very cool. Then maybe she’d make YOU blush!
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.
Jewrotica is inspiring Jews and erotica with holiness and coolness, and is the pride of progressive Judaism. Jewrotica – awesome!
While many people fear the “sex talk,” Jewrotica offers an opportunity for writers and audiences to speak about sexuality in a open and safe space. When I attended a Jewrotica reading, I heard stories that reminded me that love takes many forms, and that expressing it is a vital part of who we are as a people.
Jewrotica is something that the community has needed for a long time so that people can actually learn, express and share and have good relationships without having to stumble through life. Check out the site and learn something. Have fun!
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!
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!
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!
I attended and participated in last month’s Jewrotica event. The engaging performers and Ayo, our inviting host, inspired the audience to feel like one big community. What a great way to inspire our community to embrace sex as a beautiful thing that can be fun, exciting, sacred, sensual, ridiculous, scary and everything in between!
The people behind Jewrotica are quite quality! I have confidence that any project these folks take on will be equally quality.
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