{"product_id":"k-386-4","title":"They Called It Holy","description":"\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\n\u003cbig\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhysical and Spiritual Intimacy\u003cbr\u003eBetween Man and Woman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/big\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Holy Gate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eby Ravad\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Holy Letter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eby Rambam\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHebrew \/ English\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThey Called It Holy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e brings to light the work of two medieval giants\u003cbr\u003eof Jewish thought, Ravad and Ramban, on the subject of sexuality.\u003cbr\u003eThe Torah views the union of a married couple to be a holy religious\u003cbr\u003efulfilment of God's will. The reader will find refreshing insights\u003cbr\u003eapplicable to everyday Jewish life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Within the confines of the Jewish tradition, marital intimacy and\u003cbr\u003eindeed sexuality as a whole were normally not matters of public\u003cbr\u003ediscussion. Rooted in the time-honored values of \u003ci\u003etzniyut\u003c\/i\u003e, this laudable\u003cbr\u003ereticence led to an unfortunate and erroneous conclusion that\u003cbr\u003eJudaism regarded marital relations as somehow dirty, improper or\u003cbr\u003eshameful, and something to be avoided. At best, it could be tolerated\u003cbr\u003eas a concession to human weakness, but ideally, celibacy would be the\u003cbr\u003epreferred holier state.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Intentional\u003cbr\u003ecelibacy is actually sinful; marriage is an elevated state of spirituality,\u003cbr\u003eand within marriage, intimacy in particular was seen as a vehicle to\u003cbr\u003ebring Divine blessing into the world. If the tradition has been reticent,\u003cbr\u003eit is because of the holiness of intimacy, not its shame.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Quite remarkably, two of the greatest \u003ci\u003eRishonim\u003c\/i\u003e (medieval halachic\u003cbr\u003eauthorities) compiled 'sex manuals' for married couples that eloquently\u003cbr\u003emake these very points Rabbi Avraham Ben David (Ravad III) in\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Holy Gate\u003c\/i\u003e, and Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman (\u003ci\u003eRamban\u003c\/i\u003e, although\u003cbr\u003ehere the attribution is a little less certain) in \u003ci\u003eThe Holy Letter\u003c\/i\u003e. (Note\u003cbr\u003eespecially the term 'Holy' that appears in both titles.) These are eye-\u003cbr\u003eopening, indeed revolutionary, treatments of topics rarely addressed\u003cbr\u003ein any sacred literature, and definitively dispel any notion that Judaism\u003cbr\u003eviews intimacy in a negative or inferior light. Sadly, however, these\u003cbr\u003eworks were inaccessible to those not conversant in rabbinic Hebrew,\u003cbr\u003eand these vital and valuable perspectives were simply lost.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"We thus owe Dr. Moshe Kuhr a tremendous debt of gratitude for\u003cbr\u003ebringing these truths to the forefront.\" \u003cb\u003e- Rabbi Yitzchak A. Breitowitz\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr. Kuhr's previous works\u003c\/b\u003e include Maharal's \u003ci\u003eGur Arye\u003c\/i\u003e in three volumes\u003cbr\u003etitled \u003ci\u003eThe Lion Cub of Prague\u003c\/i\u003e, and Maharal's \u003ci\u003eNetivot Olam\u003c\/i\u003e called \u003ci\u003ePaths\u003cbr\u003eof the Maharal\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Moshe David Kuhr, MD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67953517723847,"sku":"K-386-4","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0093\/3625\/8657\/files\/K-386-4.jpg?v=1792370134","url":"https:\/\/judaicaplaza.com\/products\/k-386-4","provider":"Judaica Plaza","version":"1.0","type":"link"}