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What are the spiritual ramifications of intimacy?

by Rabbi Baruch Emanuel Erdstein

  

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Jewish tradition teaches that there are three partners in the creation of a new soul: the mother, the father, and G-d Himself. Even when conception is not taking place, the Divine Presence rests upon a couple who are united in mind and body. More importantly, as a microcosm of the entire G-d/Creation dynamic, a couple, via marital intimacy within a holy context, actually serves to merge the divine heavenly forces with this physical world, thus increasing the level of holiness in the Creation. In fact, there is a mystical teaching that during the many years that Abraham and Sarah were childless, their marital intimacy produced holy spiritual entities which augmented the degree of G-dly revelation in the world.

Of the all the desires related to the five senses, those related to touch are the most base, animalistic, and instinctive. When we infuse such earthly nature with a sense of spiritual sanctity, we effect a tremendous power of rectification. Thus, the nature of our sexuality actually serves as the greatest tool by which we can draw G-dliness into the physical world.

Of course, extreme caution must be taken that such powerful potential not be misused or misdirected. In our generation especially, greatest effort must be taken to sanctify this most precious tool, which has for the most part been greatly abused. Regarding self-expression as well as what we receive from our environs, only those who exercise great modesty in all their interpersonal relations are granted access to the holy power that our sexuality has to offer.


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Abraham
First Jew, and first of our three Patriarchs. Born into a pagan society in Mesepotamia in 1812 BCE, he discovered monethieism on his own. He was told by G-d to journey to the Land of Canaan where he and his wife Sarah would give birth to the Jewish People.
Sarah
First Jewess, first of the four Jewish Matriarchs, wife of Abraham--the first Jew. Lived in Mesopotamia, and then Canaan, in the 19th century BCE.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.