by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on January 4, 2018
May a woman be a mohelet? Although women are not circumcised, they are members of the covenant that the Jewish people, have with God: “You stand this day all of you before the Lord your God.. all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the stranger that is in your camp… that you enter into covenant with the Lord your God…” (Deut.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on December 28, 2017
So what is the story with Christmas gifts and office Christmas parties? Last week we saw that the Talmud draws a number of red lines to ensure that our active involvement in the surrounding society does not lead us into religiously problematic areas.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on December 21, 2017
This time of year, during the “holiday season,” many Jews struggle with how to best negotiate our interaction with the society and culture around us. Can we give Christmas or year-end gifts to our paper carrier? Can we go to our company’s holiday party if it is going to be Christmas-themed?…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
Our first episode! We talk about fantasy: is there such thing as a “normal” fantasy? What’s the history of fantasizing in Judaism? What does Jewish law have to say about it? We also interviewed Michael Lesher about his new book on covering up sexual abuse in Orthodox communities.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
These sources accompany the (mini) eight episode of the Joy of Text podcast. Hiding Under the Bed Babylonian Talmud Hagigah (5b) | (:תלמוד בבלי מסכת חגיגה (ה אמר רב: אפילו שיחה יתירה שבין איש לאשתו מגידים לו לאדם בשעת מיתה.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
These sources accompany the (mini) tenth episode of the Joy of Text podcast. How to Conceive a Baby Boy Babylonian Talmud, Niddah 31a | (.בבלי, נדה דף (לא אמר רבי יצחק אמר רבי אמי: אשה מזרעת תחילה – יולדת זכר, איש מזריע תחילה – יולדת נקבה, שנאמר +ויקרא י”ב+ אשה כי תזריע וילדה זכר.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
These sources accompany the (mini) twelfth episode of the Joy of Text podcast. They Become One Flesh 1. Breishit 2:24 | בראשית ב’:כ”ד עַל כֵּן יַעֲזָב אִישׁ אֶת אָבִיו וְאֶת אִמּוֹ וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ וְהָיוּ לְבָשָׂר אֶחָד: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
What is the real obligation of sex between a husband and wife? These sources accompany the (mini) fourteenth episode of the Joy of Text podcast. Steipler on Sex: What Sex and Matzah have in common A Letter from the Steipler (Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky 1899-1985) | מכתב מהסטייפלר Translated by Rabbi Dov Linzer ב.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
These sources accompany the ninth episode of the Joy of Text podcast. In this episode: Male Masturbation Yichud for Gay Men and Women Male Masturbation Sources and Reasons The most often cited source for the prohibition (or condemnation) of masturbation is the story of Er and Onan (hence the word “onanism”).…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
Our hosts talk about the meaning of “virginity” in medicine and Jewish law. Then they talk with Dr. Joel Hecker about sexuality and Jewish mysticism. In the Q&A: What happens when the rules about physical intimacy clash with a mother’s postpartum depression?…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
In this episode: Can pornography have a place in an observant Jewish life? Plus, a principal talks about his school’s approach to sex ed, and a question about revealing one’s past sexual history. These sources accompany the sixth episode of the Joy of Text podcast.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2017
How can you use your flower arrangements to signal to your partner that you want sex? How does the commandment oftzniut affect women’s sexuality? What sex positions are halakhically permissible? Learn the answers to these questions and more on the first episode of Season Twoof The Joy of Text!…
