Intimacy: The Jewish Approach
Part 2 of 2
By Mrs. Feige Twersky
"Judaism views sexuality in marriage as an expression of the couple's
deeper spiritual bond. In the temporary absence of physical relations, a
couple is encouraged to focus on and further develop those aspects of the
marriage that underlie and give spiritual life to their sexual
relationship."
-Tziporah Heller
Our Bodies, Our Souls
Our previous class explored the power of mikvah - and the associated
practice of family purity - to bring cohesiveness to a marriage and a
sense of monthly renewal to the Jewish woman and her husband. Against
today's backdrop of sexual permissiveness, emotional frustration and
relationship chaos, mikvah reminds us that love has spiritual
underpinnings that are best cultivated with a measure of restraint and the
other advantages mikvah offers.
Our current class further explores the benefits that result from the
monthly phases of a couple's physical separation and togetherness,
following a woman's immersion in the mikvah.
It seems appropriate that mikvah is a woman's privilege, given mikvah's
association with the integrity of the household, and the fact that the
woman is generally at the center of domestic life. Immersion presents the
Jewish woman an opportunity to request God's assistance in her efforts to
muster the physical, spiritual and intellectual energy she needs in order
to create a wholesome, prosperous environment for herself and others.
Mikvah's potential benefits include ongoing marital freshness. Today's
divorce rate hints at the problems that arise once the initial excitement
of marriage wears off. The Talmud, as if in response to this transition
in a marriage, comments that something perpetually available risks
eventually losing its initial luster. Thus, over time the accessibility
that a married man and woman have to one another may have a negative
impact on their relationship. Torah sets forth mikvah as a panacea for
this trouble. The period between a couple's monthly separation and the
woman's mikvah night is approximately two weeks. Because of this regular
hiatus, the Talmud tells us, husband and wife become a new bride and
groom, again and again.
Another advantage of mikvah is that it teaches us the value of restraint.
In a world that asks us to abandon control altogether, husband and wife in
a Jewish marriage undergo a regular program of separation. This exercise
in restraint becomes a learned response in the outside world, when
temptations arise.
The physical separation associated with mikvah provides husband and wife a
chance to focus on the individuality that Torah considers a prerequisite
for a healthy marriage. The idea that husband and wife should challenge
and inspire one another is a major force in the cohesiveness of the ideal
Jewish relationship. This dynamic "oneness" that results from reuniting
two halves of soul is the spiritual basis of Jewish marriage. The unique
identity of each soul is to be further refined by the teamwork that
marriage requires, rather than compromised by the challenges marriage
presents.
Finally, mikvah provides an opportunity for heightened verbal
communication, given that it limits the physical interaction that may from
time to time replace substantial conversation. It is widely acknowledged
that a couple's ability to communicate has a lot to do with the success of
their relationship. Given that effective communication is a learned
skill, mikvah offers a couple free monthly practice sessions.
The deeper spiritual benefits of mikvah and family purity are beyond the
scope of this class. In simple, effective terms one thing is clear:
without serving a higher purpose, our physical intimacy remains just
physical. Mikvah has the potential to enrich both the couple and the
individuals who comprise the marital unit.
Text Copyright © 2004 by Mrs. Leah Kohn and Torah.org.
