Isaiah 62:4-5 No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over yo…

How do you adjust to a new relationship after losing a spouse? What treatments are there for male infertility? Visit Dr. Michael Werner at MAZE Men's Health! Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Instagram: @drbatsheva Facebook page Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Dov Linzer! Rosh Yeshiva Responds YCT podcasts YCTorah Facebook page www.YCTo…

Genesis 49:24 Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Facebook fan page Instagram: @drbatsheva Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Linzer! Rabbi Linzer’s other podcasts YCT Facebook community Instagr…

Is doing sex work ever kosher? Follow Leah Forster! Instagram: @leahforster Tickets: Feb. 3 @ Caroline's On Broadway Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Instagram: @drbatsheva Facebook page Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Dov Linzer! Rosh Yeshiva Responds YCT podcasts YCTorah Facebook page www.YCTorah.org Have a question for Rabbi Linzer …

Responsa Maharsham 3:161 (Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Shvadron, 1835-1911, Ukraine) For five years, a couple had no child. And then, came to them a man who was his relative and slept in their house. Then his wife got pregnant and had a child. Why does the child look more like the relative than the husband? Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Facebook fan page …

What happens when I'm attracted to someone I shouldn't desire? When does childhood curiosity become sexually inappropriate? Mentioned: The Other Side of Desire Follow Noam Zion! Shalom Hartman Institute Sanctified Sex Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Instagram: @drbatsheva Facebook page Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Dov Linzer! Rosh …

Horiyot 10b:15 A transgression performed for the sake of Heaven is greater than a mitzva performed not for its own sake. Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Facebook fan page Instagram: @drbatsheva Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Linzer! Rabbi Linzer’s other podcasts YCT Facebook community Instagram: @YCTorah www.YCTorah.org Have a questi…

The team discusses erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, shame, and hope! Visit Dr. Michael Werner at MAZE Men's Health! Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Instagram: @drbatsheva Facebook page Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Dov Linzer! Rosh Yeshiva Responds YCT podcasts YCTorah Facebook page www.YCTorah.org Have a question for Rabbi L…

Moed Katan 17a A wasp came and stung the ostracized scholar on his penis and he died. Because he was a great Torah scholar, they took him into the caves in which the pious are interred in order to bury him there, but the caves did not accept him. A snake stood at the entrance of the caves and did not let them pass. They then took him into the caves…

Is it okay to watch pornographic material? What is boudoir photography? Can you mix dairy and semen? Follow Rebecca Sigala! Instagram: @rebeccasigalaboudoir Facebook page Rebecca’s Facebook group www.RebeccaSigala.com Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Instagram: @drbatsheva Facebook page Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Dov Linzer! Rosh …

Deuteronomy, ch. 29, verse 18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood. Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Facebook fan page Instagram: @drbatsheva Book: Sex Poi…

Is Judaism sex-positive? Bat Sheva and Rabbi Linzer fielded questions ‘at’ June’s Limmud Oz conference hosted by Goldie Markovits. Due to technical difficulties over Zoom, some of the moderator’s questions have been dubbed over for clarity. Learn more about Limmud Oz at limmudoz.com.au. Follow Goldie on Instagram @goldiemarko! Follow Dr. Bat Sheva …

What does Halacha say about abortion? Donate to Lada'at! Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Facebook fan page Instagram: @drbatsheva Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Dov Linzer! YCT Facebook community YCT YouTube channel www.YCTorah.org Have a question for Rabbi Linzer and Bat Sheva Marcus? Click to submit yours! Moderated by Sara Rozner …

Deuteronomy, ch. 6, verses 4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when …

In this episode, we discuss the complexities of desire in a sexual relationship, the varying views Judaism has taken on the innate desires of different sexes, and what individuals can do to improve their sex lives. Then, we interview our very own Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus about her new book “Sex Points: Reclaim Your Sex Life with the […] The post Sex an…

In this episode, we explore a fascinating text that states that the greater the person (in Torah), the greater his yetzer (lust). What is the correlation here, and how might the cloistered experience of rabbis be a factor? The post The Yetzer of “Great Men” (Sukkah 52a) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.…

In this episode, we discuss the complexities, both halachic and interpersonal, of sexual fantasies. We ask: Are they good or bad for a relationship? Are they halakhically permitted or forbidden? Should they be shared with one’s partner, or kept to oneself? Then, we sit down with Noa Fleischacker and Hannah Barg to talk about their podcast […] The p…

In this episode, we reflect on the complexities of long term relationships, as we examine three stories about Talmudic couples experiencing timeless challenges. The post Peas, Lentils, and the Complications of Long Term Relationships (Yevamot 63a-b) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.By Bat Sheva Marcus, Dov Linzer, Sara Rozner Lawrence

How should parents and educators talk about sex to teens and young adults? What is the role of halakha in these conversations, and how do we deal with cases when one’s sexual ethics are in conflict with halakha? Then, we chat with popular instagrammer “Holy__Shid” about her innovative matchmaking technique on social media, discuss her take […] The …

In this mini-text episode, we discuss a provocative text about the Holy of Holies and its sexual symbolism, just in time for Yom Kippur. The post From Behind the Curtain (Yoma 54a) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.By Bat Sheva Marcus, Dov Linzer, Sara Rozner Lawrence

What halakhicly constitutes Tfillah biTzibur - our silent Shmoneh Esrei that we all say together in a minyan, or the repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei that the Shaliach Tzibbur says on our behalf? Are we a collection of distinct individuals or a single, undifferentiated unit? Hear how Rav Moshe rules on this issue and how this impacts questions such …

In this episode, we discuss how parents should talk with their young children around issues that relate to sex, body parts, physical touch, and more – what language and tone one should use, at what age should certain topics be raised, and how do we balance these conversations with our values and with concerns for […] The post Sex Education, Part 1 …

In this bonus episode, our hosts reflect on wrapping up their fifth season of the Joy of Text, reminisce about some of their favorite episodes, and look forward to next season. Thank you to all of our longtime listeners for sticking with us, and thank you to all of our new listeners for joining us […] The post BONUS EPISODE: Reflections on Five Yea…

Men often receive the message that they are required to attend a daily minyan. But is this really true? This question is particularly poignant nowadays when the ability to participate in a minyan cannot be taken for granted. Join us as we explore the perspective of Rav Moshe Feinstein on this issue, and see how, for him and for this issue, theology…

How do we determine if someone is truly dead? This question is central to the ability to donate and receive organs, and to determine when a dying patient can be taken off of life support. If brain death is considered to be death according to halakha, organ donation becomes a possibility. But if the Talmud never discusses the brain in this context, …

In this episode, we look at various opinions in the Gemara about limitations on learning Torah after having sex and explore the potential spiritual and psychological effects sex can have on the way we engage with Torah. The post Learning Torah after Sex (Berachot 22A) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.…

Can you derive benefit from harvesting an organ from a dead body? Can kohanim, who are halakhically forbidden from interacting with corpses, be organ transplant recipients if those organs originate from dead bodies? Find out how Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled on these fascinating questions in our latest episode of Iggros Moshe At to Z, featuring host …

Is it a mitzvah to donate one’s organs? What differences might there be between live donations, such as a kidney, and donations after death? Does halakha require or even allow me to sacrifice part of my body or expose myself to a possible risk of life in order to save the life of another person? Find out how Rav Moshe answered these questions in th…

The reforms introduced by Vatican II brought new opportunities for the Orthodox Jewish community to engage in interfaith councils and dialogue with Christians. While some welcomed these opportunities to bridge the gaps among religious communities, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein believed strongly that these threatened the once-firm boundaries around observan…

What type of boundaries must be drawn between Jews and non-Jews? In a series of teshuvot, Rav Moshe lays out an approach that would protect non-Jewish incursion into Jewish territory and vice-versa. Listen in to see how he applies this to the questions of whether a non-Jew can do mitzvot, whether Jews can learn or teach about ancient pagan religion…

In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that prayer in public schools was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Many religious groups, including segments of the Orthodox community, responded by fighting for a constitutional amendment that would permit such prayer to be said. What was Rav Moshe’s view of school prayer and what his re…

We now have the potential to control the sizes of our families more than ever before. In this episode, we discuss family planning and ask what exercising this control says about our approaches to family life and sex, and how this freedom can be balanced with our halachic obligations to have children and raise a […] The post The Family Planning Epis…

In this third and final episode on medical ethics, Rabbi Dov Linzer explores Rav Feinstein’s rulings on the halakhic ethos that should guide medical professionals in matters of triage and priority of care. Should we operate on the principle that all life is of equal and infinite value, or should we prioritize medical treatment based on the status, …

If a person is dying of a terminal illness and is suffering, must a doctor intervene to extend the life for a short time or can the person be allowed to die? And what is the role of patient choice in such a case? Rabbi Moshe Feinstein comes down strongly on the side of allowing a death to take place, and yet at other times he prioritizes the princi…

Jewish tradition holds that we have a mandate to preserve life, and that we do not have ownership over our bodies. But when a patient must choose whether to undergo a risky procedure that may extend but may foreshorten life, how is she to choose? Find out how Rav Moshe addressed these cases and in so doing opened up a space for patient autonomy wit…

If a couple doesn’t plan on upholding the laws of family purity, can an Orthodox rabbi marry them? What about a kosher catering hall hosting a wedding that will feature mixed dancing? Rabbi Dov Linzer explains Moshe Feinstein’s rulings on both situations in our newest episode of Iggros Moshe A to Z:Photo-https://www.pexels.com/photo/wedding-guests-…

In this episode, we examine a passage in Tractate Berachot regarding reciting the Shema while lying unclothed next to family members and others, and grapple with perspectives and social norms different than our own. The post Shema and Strange Bedfellows (Berachot 24A) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.…

Can you invite a non-observant Jew to your house on Shabbat if he will drive to get to you? Find out in our latest episode of Iggros Moshe A to Z featuring host Rabbi Dov Linzer!Photo-https://pixabay.com/photos/car-man-vehicle-automobile-driver-7614510/By Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning producer, filmmaker and actor, Michal Birnbaum, who most recently played the Kallah teacher on the Netflix hit series, Unorthodox. We talk about her portrayal of the character, how she prepared for the role of a Kallah teacher in an Ultra-Orthodox community, and much more! The post BONUS EPISODE: Inte…

How binding is the minhag of gebrochts in a family? What if nobody else in your community is upholding it? Rabbi Linzer looks at a teshuvah that answers these questions.Photo-https://www.flickr.com/photos/donutgirl/5635072481By Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

In this episode, we discuss the complexities of changes in our sex lives through different life stages. We look at how couples can spice up their private life when youthful signals like Mikveh night fade away, and when different aspects of life might get in the way of intimacy. Then, we sit down with Bracha Bard-Wigder, […] The post Sexuality Throu…

Are peanuts kitniyot? What makes something kitniyot? Rabbi Linzer asks and Rav Moshe answers.Photo-https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peanutjar.jpgBy Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

How does Rav Moshe feel about eating the afikoman after midnight? Rabbi Linzer finds out in our third pre-Pesach episode.Photo-https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shmura_Matzo2.jpgBy Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Rav Moshe addresses the obligations of women in the mitzvot of the night of Pesach. How far does 'af hein hayu beoto haneis' go? Can a woman be motzi her husband in reading the Haggadah?Photo-https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rylands_Hagaddah_19v_-_20r.JPGBy Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Rabbi Linzer looks at a teshuva about making a siyum on a book of Tanakh for Taanit Bechorot on Erev Pesach. Is it allowed? What is the source?Photo-https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tanach.jpgBy Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

In this episode we look at a passage from the Zohar which seems to put the woman in charge of the sexual relationship, and we ask the question: what does sleeping on rocks, flattery and apes have to do with all this? The post Whispering Sweet Nothings? (Zohar I:49a-b) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.…

One of the defining characteristics of an Orthodox synagogue is the mechitzah. But where does it come from and what is it about? On this episode, we discuss the ins-and-outs of mechitza. Is the goal to make women invisible, to create a gender-separate space, or something else? And does mechitza truly make for a better […] The post Mechitzah, Gender…

In this mini text episode, we look at a passage in the Gemara (Niddah 16b-17a) which forbids or discourages sex during the daytime and try to parse the different reasons given for this ruling. In the end we discuss how some of this plays out practically and to what degree this is applicable nowadays. The post Sex During the Day (Niddah 16b-17a) app…

This episode is a re-release, and was originally recorded at Limmud NY in 2016. In this episode, Dr. Marcus and Rabbi Linzer tackle female masturbation and interview Miryam Kabakov about Eshel, a group for LGBT Orthodox Jews. In the Q&A: is it permissible to talk “dirty”? The post (Re-Release) Does Sexting Lead to Mixed Dancing? appeared first on J…

Kissing as a spiritual experience? In this episode, we explore a cryptic text of the Zohar about the deeper meaning of a kiss. If you would like to learn it yourself, check out Zohar 2:124B. The post Kissing as a Spiritual Experience (Zohar 2:124B) appeared first on Jewish Public Media.By Bat Sheva Marcus, Dov Linzer, Sara Rozner Lawrence