Onah: Difference between revisions
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[[File:רבי_יונה_שטנצל_בחופה_עם_רבי_משה_פיינשטיין.JPG | thumb | right | alt=Wedding blessings by a Rabbi during a Jewish wedding | Rabbi Moshe Feinstein giving the traditional Jewish wedding blessings at Rabbi Yona Shtentzel’s daughter wedding]]'''''Onah''''' ([[Hebrew]]:עוֹנָה) is a Mitzvah that obliges the husband to be attentive and responsive to his wife's emotional and intimate needs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mitzva of Ona - Jewish Tradition |url=https://yahadut.org/en/family/marriage/the-mitzva-of-ona/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=yahadut.org |language=en}}</ref> |
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In rabbinic Hebrew, the word literally means "due season, period, stage".<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org.il/Jastrow%2C_%D7%A2%D7%95%D6%B9%D7%A0%D6%B8%D7%94_I.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Jastrow dictionary: עוֹנָה I] (usage 4)</ref> In the word's only Biblical appearance ({{Bibleverse|Exodus|21:10|HE}}), opinions are divided whether it means "time/season" or else "dwelling together".<ref name=dict>[http://mg.alhatorah.org/Dictionary/5772 Dictionary - AlHaTorah.org]</ref> |
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==The ''onah'' commandment== |
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| ⚫ | The term "{{transl|he|mitzvat onah}}" (a [[mitzvah]] performed at a set time period) refers to a husband's conjugal obligations toward his wife and is also used as a halachic euphemism for marital relations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yoatzot.org/taharat-hamishpacha/default.asp?id=547#definitiononah |
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| ⚫ | |title=Definition of Onah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha |publisher=Hebrew.yoatzot.org |date= 11 December 2014|accessdate=2018-02-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lamm |first=Maurice |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/465161/jewish/The-Purposes-of-Marriage.htm |title=The Purposes of Marriage - Marriage |publisher=Chabad.org |date= |accessdate=2015-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yoatzot.org/taharat-hamishpacha/?id=547 |title=Onot Perishah - Becoming Niddah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha |publisher=Yoatzot.org |date= 11 December 2014|accessdate=2015-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/952888/jewish/Ishut-Chapter-Fourteen.htm |title=Ishut - Chapter Fourteen - Texts & Writings |publisher=Chabad.org |date= |accessdate=2015-11-14}}</ref> |
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The Biblical source for the command is {{Bibleverse|Exodus|21:10|HE}}, which states that if a man takes a second wife in addition to the woman he has taken as a first wife, he may not withhold from either, food, clothing or diminish the frequency with which he cohabits with the first wife. If the former wife has such rights, then it follows that all wives have at least the same degree of rights. The frequency of cohabitation (ענתה) has been translated as providing the view shelter, along with the guaranteed food and clothing. Based upon the [[Gemara]] (Ketubot 47b), [[Rashi]] interprets this word as meaning 'Marital duty,' which can be inferred as referring to marital intercourse being a nuptial requirement. |
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| ⚫ | The term "mitzvat onah" (a mitzvah performed at a set time period) refers to a husband's conjugal obligations toward his wife and is also used as a halachic euphemism for marital relations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http:// |
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| ⚫ | <ref>{{cite web|last=Lamm |first=Maurice |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/465161/jewish/The-Purposes-of-Marriage.htm |title=The Purposes of Marriage - Marriage |publisher=Chabad.org |date= |accessdate=2015-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yoatzot.org/taharat-hamishpacha/?id=547 |title=Onot Perishah - Becoming Niddah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha |publisher=Yoatzot.org |date= |accessdate=2015-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/952888/jewish/Ishut-Chapter-Fourteen.htm |title=Ishut - Chapter Fourteen - Texts & Writings |publisher=Chabad |
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| ⚫ | According to the [[Mishnah]], the frequency at which a husband must have sex with his wife (if she desires it) depends on the husband's profession: for men of independence, every day; for laborers, twice a week; for donkey-drivers, once a week; for camel-drivers, once in thirty days; for sailors, once in six months.<ref>[[Mishnah]] Ketubot 5:6</ref> |
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Some say: |
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The [[mitzvah]] of '''onah''' – marital intimate relations – is defined in the [[Mishnah]] as fixed, regular times that a married couple may not be intimate with to together.<ref>Ketubbot 5:6</ref> |
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The commandment applies even if a wife is unable to become pregnant (e.g. infertile, old, or currently pregnant or nursing).<ref>[[Mishnah Brurah]], 240:10</ref><ref>[https://www.daat.ac.il/he-il/mishpacha/hakama/yezirat/ona.htm מצוות עונה – חובת הבעל כלפי אשתו]</ref> |
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R. Joseph learnt: Her flesh implies close bodily contact, viz, that he must not treat her in the manner of the Persians who perform their conjugal duties in their clothes. This provides support for [a ruling of] R. Huna who laid down that a husband who said, ‘I will not [perform conjugal duties] unless she wears her clothes and I mine’, must divorce her and give her also her ketubah.<ref>Ketubah 48a</ref> |
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==In relation to ''niddah''== |
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According to the Rabad enumerated four permitted "kavvanot" for sexual relations with rewards in the world to come: for procreation, for [[welfare]] of the [[fetus]], for a wife’s desire, and that a man has [[desire]] to act promiscuously and relieves that through intercourse with his wife. Yet the last one is a lesser reward, since the man should have had the strength to resist. If He does not show any strength, and has sex anytime he wants, this would not be rewarded. |
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[[Maimonides]] and other rationalists saw sexuality and desire as an animal drive, not something for the rational man. He says: “The sense of touch which is a disgrace to us leads to indulge in eating and sensuality”, etc. There was a deep reaction to this about a generation after the Rambam. The growing movement of Kabbalah and other schools of the region had a negative reaction to this passage of Maimonides quoting Aristotle. the [[Nahmanides]] in "Iggeret Ha-kodesh" says: "But we who have the Torah and believe that God created all in his wisdom [do not believe he] created anything inherently ugly or unseemly. If we were to say that intercourse is repulsive, then we blaspheme God who made the genitals". |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:Judaism and sexuality| ]] |
[[Category:Judaism and sexuality| ]] |
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[[Category:Positive Mitzvoth]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:26, 14 September 2024
Onah (Hebrew:עוֹנָה) is a Mitzvah that obliges the husband to be attentive and responsive to his wife's emotional and intimate needs.[1]
In rabbinic Hebrew, the word literally means "due season, period, stage".[2] In the word's only Biblical appearance (Exodus 21:10), opinions are divided whether it means "time/season" or else "dwelling together".[3]
The onah commandment
[edit]The term "mitzvat onah" (a mitzvah performed at a set time period) refers to a husband's conjugal obligations toward his wife and is also used as a halachic euphemism for marital relations.[4][5][6][7]
The Biblical source for the command is Exodus 21:10, which states that if a man takes a second wife in addition to the woman he has taken as a first wife, he may not withhold from either, food, clothing or diminish the frequency with which he cohabits with the first wife. If the former wife has such rights, then it follows that all wives have at least the same degree of rights. The frequency of cohabitation (ענתה) has been translated as providing the view shelter, along with the guaranteed food and clothing. Based upon the Gemara (Ketubot 47b), Rashi interprets this word as meaning 'Marital duty,' which can be inferred as referring to marital intercourse being a nuptial requirement.
According to the Mishnah, the frequency at which a husband must have sex with his wife (if she desires it) depends on the husband's profession: for men of independence, every day; for laborers, twice a week; for donkey-drivers, once a week; for camel-drivers, once in thirty days; for sailors, once in six months.[8]
The commandment applies even if a wife is unable to become pregnant (e.g. infertile, old, or currently pregnant or nursing).[9][10]
R. Yaakov Emden: One should ease his wife's mind and make her happy, prepare her and nurture her with words that make her happy so that she feels passionate towards him (which will be apparent in her breathing and eyes). [11]
In relation to niddah
[edit]In the context of the laws of niddah, the word onah usually refers to a day or a night. Each 24-hour day thus consists of two onot (plural for onah). The daytime onah begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. The night-time onah lasts from sunset until sunrise.
Marital relations are forbidden during one of these 12-hour periods if a woman anticipates her menstrual cycle beginning in such a period. This is called an "onat perishah" (time period of separation).
The term onah can also refer to the length of the menstrual cycle. Halachically, (according to Jewish law) one assumes that the "onah beinonit" (or average interval), is thirty days long.
References
[edit]- ^ "The Mitzva of Ona - Jewish Tradition". yahadut.org. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ Jastrow dictionary: עוֹנָה I (usage 4)
- ^ Dictionary - AlHaTorah.org
- ^ "Definition of Onah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha". Hebrew.yoatzot.org. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- ^ Lamm, Maurice. "The Purposes of Marriage - Marriage". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- ^ "Onot Perishah - Becoming Niddah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha". Yoatzot.org. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- ^ "Ishut - Chapter Fourteen - Texts & Writings". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- ^ Mishnah Ketubot 5:6
- ^ Mishnah Brurah, 240:10
- ^ מצוות עונה – חובת הבעל כלפי אשתו
- ^ Marital Intimacy page 106