Talmudic re-readings: Toward a Modern Orthodox sexual ethic.
Item
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Title
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Talmudic re-readings: Toward a Modern Orthodox sexual ethic.
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Identifier
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AAI3296946
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identifier
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3296946
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Creator
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Rosenfeld, Jennie.
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Contributor
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Adviser: David H. Richter
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Date
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2008
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Literature, General | Jewish Studies | Gender Studies
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Abstract
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There is a deep tension for many Modern Orthodox Jewish singles between their sexuality and their religious observance---this tension leads many into personal and spiritual crises amidst the desire to make meaning out of contradiction. The Babylonian Talmud, a huge and multi-vocal text, contains many passages which have the potential to speak to singles and to their struggles. The goal of this work is to use the lens of critical theory to bring the Talmud and the contemporary life of the Modern Orthodox Jew into a dialogue and to carve out a sexual ethic which can speak to singles and help them navigate the difficult choices which face them at the intersection of the sexual and religious aspects of their lives.;Much of the tension results from the fact that Jewish law prohibits any physical contact whatsoever between men and women before marriage; this restriction is extremely challenging for Modern Orthodox Jews today, who are living in modern society where sexuality pervades the culture and media; where the notion of romantic love before marriage is such that no physical contact is a heavy burden; and where there is a much longer gap between the onset of puberty and the age of marriage.;Consequently, many Modern Orthodox singles feel trapped by competing values and commitments; on the one hand stands the value of observance of Jewish law, and on the other, an awareness of the self as a sexual being and the value of building an open, healthy, and emotionally deep relationship with another human being, for which physical intimacy is almost a necessity.;This work brackets the realm of law, and attempts to focus on the realm of ethics, mining the Talmud for a sexual ethic which can speak to the conflicts of Modern Orthodox singles today, and offer guidance in making difficult decisions. I structure the chapters around various themes which I encountered in informal conversations with Orthodox singles, including sexual compulsion, anxiety, guilt, and shame. The ethic attempts to speak to the struggles experienced by singles in both the personal, interpersonal, and communal realms.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
