The Ashkenazi Hasidic community is known for its strict adherence to Orthodox Jewish laws, including those related to marriage and family life. Couples are expected to follow specific guidelines for physical intimacy, which can include restrictions on touching and behavior during and outside of intercourse. This may present challenges to the maintenance of sexual satisfaction and emotional closeness within a relationship.
Some couples have found ways to navigate these guidelines and maintain a fulfilling connection.
How does the community define marriage?
Within the Ashkenazi Hasidic community, marriage is seen as a sacred covenant between a man and woman who commit themselves to each other before God. Marriage is often arranged by parents or matchmakers, and it is not uncommon for couples to marry without ever dating or spending time alone together beforehand. Once married, the couple enters into a lifelong partnership that is intended to be exclusive and monogamous.
What are the rules governing physical intimacy?
Physical intimacy within marriage is limited in various ways, such as avoiding certain positions or genital stimulation during intercourse. Some couples also abstain from touching or kissing outside of sexual encounters. These guidelines are meant to preserve modesty and fidelity, but they can make it difficult for couples to connect emotionally and physically.
How do couples maintain intimacy under these restrictions?
Despite these limitations, many couples find ways to express their love and passion through physical intimacy within the bounds of the law. They might engage in longer foreplay, explore new positions, or even try different forms of non-intercourse playfulness like massages or holding hands.
They may seek counseling or guidance from religious leaders or mental health professionals to help them address any issues or concerns.
Can emotional closeness exist without physical intimacy?
Some couples report that while physical intimacy is important, emotional connection is even more so. They focus on building trust, communication, and support within their relationship, which helps maintain a strong bond even when sex is limited. They prioritize spending quality time together, talking openly about their feelings, and supporting each other through challenges. This can lead to deep emotional closeness that goes beyond the physical realm.
How do Ashkenazi Hasidic couples maintain sexual satisfaction and emotional closeness under strict communal and religious oversight?
In many Ashkenazi Hasidic communities, married couples are expected to abide by strict rules regarding sexual activity and emotional intimacy within their marriage. These rules include avoiding physical contact between members of different sexes before marriage, restricting non-marital sex to only one night per year during the holiday of Yom Kippur, and following specific rules for marital relations.