Before the kaballah of the Arizal began to filter into Jewish thought, was ho'tza'at zerah le'vatala considered as terrible of a sin as we tend to think today? Was it considered a sin at all?
Answer
Even before the Arizal, it was known as a serious sin. For example, the Talmud (Niddah 13b) states:
מאי דכתיב ידיכם דמים מלאו - אלו המנאפים ביד
What is the meaning of the verse: "your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15) - these are those who commit forbidden sexual acts with their hands.
Rashi (ibid) explains that this refers to masturbation.
Based on this passage, Rambam writes (Hilkhot Issurei Biah 21:18):
אסור להוציא שכבת זרע לבטלה; לפיכך לא יהיה אדם דש מבפנים וזורה מבחוץ, ולא יישא קטנה שאינה ראויה לוולד. אבל אלו שמנאפין ביד, ומוציאין שכבת זרע--לא דיי שהוא איסור גדול, אלא שעושה זה בנידוי הוא יושב; ועליהם נאמר "ידיכם, דמים מלאו" (ישעיהו א,טו), וכאילו הרגו נפש.
It is forbidden to masturbate...One who does; besides for the fact that it is a great sin, becomes excommunicated. And regarding them it is stated: "your hands are full of blood", and it is as though he committed murder.
Also noteworthy, is that even thoughts that can lead to nocturnal emissions are presented as being prohibited by Hazal (Avodah Zara 20b):
ת"ר: ונשמרת מכל דבר רע - שלא יהרהר אדם ביום ויבוא לידי טומאה בלילה
Tosafot there understand that this is a full derasha (and thus in their view, a biblical commandment). This is also the implication of Ramban (Hullin 37b) who is in turn quoted (without citation) by Ran's commentary there. If even these thoughts are biblically forbidden, masturbation would certainly seem to be considered biblically inappropriate. Other Rishonim dispute this this is actually a biblical prohibition (e.g. Ye'reim 45).
No comments:
Post a Comment