Transmission of sexual mores within the orthodox Jewish context and its implications for therapists

Abstract

Abstract Within traditional Jewish circles, the sexual encounter of married couples is circumscribed by a complex set of practices which prohibit sexual intimacy when a woman has her period and until she immerses in the mikvah (ritual bath) one week following the cessation of her monthly menses. These laws, referred to in Jewish law as the laws of niddah (the menstruant), or the laws around mikvah, frame the basic norms and expectations regarding sexuality and intimacy, as well as affecting gendered expectations in the family realm. The transmission of these laws has undergone a significant transformation in the last 50 years whereby they are no longer taught within the family context, but their instruction has become a pseudo-profession. In the last decade, another significant shift has taken place toward including detailed discussion about sexuality and intimacy within these pre-marital classes. This paper analyzes survey research and qualitative interviews to shed light on how the professionalization of the field of Jewish pre-marital counseling has affected its transmission, as well as how messages around sexual mores and gender expectations are addressed in this context. We then examine how these findings and awareness of these practices can be helpful within the therapeutic context.