you could consult the Hebrew scriptures. The mosaic law was clear that a man could not have sex with a man in the way a man would have sex with a woman. God viewed it as unnatural, turning the one practicing it into one contrary to nature, and condemned the practice of sodomy. So you need to ask yourself if God would accept the same unnatural act being performed on a woman. Then there is the health and wellbeing of your partner to consider. There are numerous health problems associated with sodomy such as ulcers, tears of the bowel leading to infections and hemorrhoids...these are all things you need to take into consideration too.
Most of which health problems can be avoided with due care and diligence.
In any case, the Leviticus prohibtions on men having sex with men in the way one does with a woman has never been connected in halachah with what kind of sexual relations are or are not permissible to a married couple. And since there is even room for debate about what the prohibtions in Leviticus mean, and even more room to debate what its intentions were, it seems to me that it doesn't make much sense for us to introduce it into the halachah today, when it has never been so connected before.
...And all that stuff makes perfect sense to you because by golly only Jews (at least some of them) can understand all the complexities that is Judaism.
I would imagine that a non-Jew who had sufficient education and training could understand Jewish Law and tradition as well as a trained Jew. Most non-Jews I have ever met simply have not been inclined to take the time and devote the resources to acquiring the education and training. Which, to me, makes perfect sense: after all, how many Americans without legal expertise decide to become lawyers certified in French law with degrees in French history and culture? If one isn't a part of a society, one usually lacks motivation to take the time and effort to become a legal expert in the laws and culture of a society not one's own.
And, in fact, not all Jews feel inclined to do so anyway, which is why the practice arose of only motivated individuals acquiring that education and training, with the rest of the people depending on them to interpret the laws and customs and be judges. Just, say, in American society, not everyone becomes a lawyer or a judge: rather, those are specialized professions, for those who feel motivated to acquire the education and training.
I, personally, find it -- let’s see um, what’s the word -- disorganized to have one person saying this and this one saying that and they’re all saying, “It’s the truth! It’s the truth!” “Interpretation! Interpretation!”... Just, not my thing. I actually feel that truth should be organized and consistent.
That's part of a worldview that holds that there is one truth, and one way to view that one truth. Judaism embraces truths, not truth, and holds space for people seeing those truths in different ways.
I mean to me having the Sabbath appear as -- now what was it you said -- ? Oh, yeah the fourth one down on the commandments list (thank you, so helpful; I mean you have to be a genius to remember these ten rules) -- doesn’t explain why the Passover and the Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles, etc., isn’t listed but kept.
Passover: see Exodus 12-13, Exodus 23:15, Leviticus 23:5 ff., Deuteronomy 16:1-16
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): see Leviticus 16, Leviticus 23:27-32, Exodus 30:10, Numbers 29:7-11
Sukkot (Feat of Tabernacles): see Exodus 23:16, Leviticus 23:34-43, Deuteronomy 16:13-16, Deuteronomy 31:10-13
In the meantime, I have to say...I’ll believe that “god” spoke to any one group of people giving them “laws and commandments” ...just about the time pigs sprout wings and fly through a hell that has frozen over...so to speak.
I don't recall anyone demanding that you believe anything.
It’s just too bad you can’t speak to the Rabbi I spoke to that implied that sex for pleasure could corrupt the mind. Your whole “sex is for pleasure too” explanation might be helpful to him.
Yes, it is too bad. That rabbi is laboring under a misapprehension.
Unbelievable! Can this many people really believe that this deplorable act is natural and permissible?
Do we not defile ourselves enough by omission or ignorance?
Just the subject, alone, should be considered unspeakable.
How dare they who would speak in favor of this act even mention Torah!
Shame! Shame on you.
There are several teshuvot (responsa) from the Gaonic period that discuss this matter, and several from the Tosafists, and all agree it is permissible for a married couple. The Rabbanim seem also to permit it (I recall Nedarim 20b off the top of my head, but I know there are other citations I don't have memorized) to married couples.
And certainly plenty of modern rabbis have ruled that the responsibility of the husband to provide gratification to his wife can include whatever acts between the two of them that they deem mutually satisfactory.
These ****ot (halachic rulings) are common everywhere except for the Haredi world.
Your still wrong.............. Rabbis would be more related to Pastors then to the Pope
