Berakhot 24

Today’s text includes several discussions on lust and sexuality, with a disturbing definition of when children grow out of being minors. 

There is discussion of the fear that if a man is sleeping in a bed with someone who is not his wife or family there is risk of temptation if he is not covered from the waist down. (“where another person is in bed with him, and there is concern lest he will have lustful thoughts.”) 

The text that defines minors as girls up to three years and one day old, and boys up to nine years and one day old, is deeply disturbing. The text states that these are the ages from which they can participate in a sexual act. Another opinion offers alternative ages: a girl eleven years and one day old and a boy twelve years and one day old. These older ages from when children can participate in a sexual act are equally disturbing. I know people married younger and lived shorter lives 2,000 years ago, but certainly the idea of a three-year old or an eleven-year old having sex would have been outrageous even then.

The reference to intention resurfaces in this text: “Anyone who gazes upon a woman’s little finger is considered as if he gazed upon her naked genitals, for if his intentions are impure it makes no difference where he looks or how much is exposed.” Is the supposition that men are so overrun with their sexual feelings that even a woman’s finger can lead them into temptation?

The mention of “even a woman’s singing voice is considered nakedness” reverberates with references to silencing women who could lead men into temptation with their very voices. 

The reference to “splitting hairs” and “being pedantic over trivialities” is interesting because it suggests the importance of understanding the full context of an issue and not getting too mired in minute details (which of course, much of the text has done over the last few days in its discussion of bathroom habits.)

I struggle with today’s discussion of women and children. I know it is problematical reading the text through my modern sensiblity, but how can I not?