Intimate Judaism

When observing the laws pertaining to niddah, women are often taught not to look at their bodily discharges, to avoid becoming niddah. With our guests Lisa Septimus and Malka Chana Amichai, we explore the halachic logic behind "don't look," the tension it creates with body awareness, and whether halacha undermines or advances body literacy.

In this Q&A episode of Intimate Judaism, we respond to honest questions about desire, restraint, identity, mental health, and intimacy within Jewish life. We touch on topics including bisexuality, workplace boundaries, what is permitted within marital intimacy, postpartum depression and low desire, shmirat einayim, and even whether leaving the lights on matters. Throughout, we focus on integrating emotional well-being with halachic integrity, rather than shame or self-erasure.

In this episode, we explore the many reasons men may avoid sexual intimacy. Challenging the myth of the "always-ready" husband, this episode explores the physical, psychological, relational, and religious factors that shape male sexuality. We discuss she impact of sexual guilt, shame, performance anxiety and trauma on sexual motivation and function, and offer guidelines for reconnection with compassion and understanding.

How can Jewish educators guide teens through questions about bodies, desire, and values without shame or fear? Talli and Scott sit down with Shuli Taubes to discuss why high school education about sex and sexual ethics matters, what healthy frameworks look like, and how schools can partner with parents to raise confident, thoughtful, and compassionate young adults.

In this premiere episode of the eighth season of Intimate Judaism, we collaborated with Together in Happiness, an organization dedicated to helping couples navigate marriage. Together, we are releasing a recording of a lecture delivered by cohost Talli Rosenbaum. In this talk, Talli discusses how Jewish marriage mirrors the relationship of the Jewish people with God, and draws upon the concepts of teshuva to provide a template for relational repair in marriage. To learn more about Together in Happiness, visit their website here.