{"product_id":"they-called-it-holy","title":"THEY CALLED IT HOLY","description":"\u003ch5 class=\"title\" role=\"heading\"\u003eTHEY CALLED IT HOLY: Physical and Spiritual Intimacy Between Man and Woman\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-md-13\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThe Holy Gate\u003c\/span\u003e by Ravad (Rabbenu Avraham ben David of Posquierre)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThe Holy Letter\u003c\/span\u003e attributed to Ramban (Rabbenu Moshe ben Nachman)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAlso includes original Hebrew text\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eTranslated and Edited by Moshe David Kuhr, MD\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThey Called It Holy \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003ebrings to light the work of two medieval giants of Jewish thought, Ravad and \u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003eR\u003c\/span\u003eamban, on the subject of sexuality. The Torah views the union of a married couple to be a holy religious fulfilment of God’s will. The reader will find refreshing insights applicable to everyday Jewish life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e“Within the confines of the Jewish tradition, marital intimacy and indeed sexuality as a whole were \u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003en\u003c\/span\u003eormally not matters of public discussion. Rooted in the time-honored values of \u003ci\u003etzniyut\u003c\/i\u003e, this laudable reticence led to an unfortunate and erroneous conclusion that Judaism regarded marital relations as somehow dirty, improper or shameful, and something to be avoided. At best, it could be tolerated as a concession to human weakness, but ideally, celibacy would be the preferred holier state.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e“In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Intentional celibacy is actually sinful; marriage is an elevated state of spirituality, and within marriage, intimacy in particular was seen as a vehicle to bring Divine blessing into the world. If the tradition has been reticent, it is because of the holiness of intimacy, not its shame.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e“Quite remarkably, two of the greatest \u003ci\u003eRishonim \u003c\/i\u003e(medieval halachic authorities) compiled ‘sex manuals’ for married couples that eloquently make these very points – Rabbi Avraham Ben David (\u003ci\u003eRavad \u003c\/i\u003eIII) in \u003ci\u003eThe Holy Gate\u003c\/i\u003e, and Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman (\u003ci\u003eRamban\u003c\/i\u003e, although here the attribution is a little less certain) in \u003ci\u003eThe Holy Letter\u003c\/i\u003e. (Note especially the term ‘Holy’ that appears in both titles.) These are eye-opening, indeed revolutionary, treatments of topics rarely addressed in any sacred literature, and definitively dispel any notion that Judaism views intimacy in a negative or inferior light. Sadly, however, these works were inaccessible to those not conversant in rabbinic Hebrew, and these vital and valuable perspectives were simply lost.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e“We thus owe Dr. Moshe Kuhr a tremendous debt of gratitude for bringing these truths to the forefront.” –\u003cb\u003eRabbi Yitzchak A. Breitowitz\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDr. Moshe David Kuhr, a native of Dayton, Ohio, \u003c\/span\u003eattended Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim of Baltimore and earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago. After 43 years of pediatric practice, he made aliyah with his wife, Phyllis, to Jerusalem, where he dedicates his time to learning, teaching and writing. His Torah mentors include Rabbis Boruch Milikovsky z”l, Berel Wein z”l, Moshe Tendler z”l, Avraham  Pessin z”l, Yaacov Haber, Dr. Yehuda Eliezri, and more recently, Yitzchak Breitowitz. He attributes his broad Torah knowledge to the guidance of these mentors and to numerous chavrutot. Dr. Kuhr’s accomplishments include four books on the works of the Maharal of Prague (Lion Cub of Prague Bereshit, Lion Cub of Prague Shemot and Vayikra, Lion Cub of Prague Bamidbar and Devarim, and Paths of the Maharal) – three on Gur Arye, a commentary on Rashi on the Torah, and one on Netivot Olam.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urim Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67754889904371,"sku":"978-965-524-386-4","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/3908\/9824\/files\/CalleditHoly-3D-low.jpg?v=1792052024","url":"https:\/\/ktav.com\/products\/they-called-it-holy","provider":"Ktav Publishing House ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}