Forbidden Intercourse Chapter 22

אָסוּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִם עֶרְוָה מִן הָעֲרָיוֹת בֵּין זְקֵנָה בֵּין יַלְדָּה שֶׁדָּבָר זֶה גּוֹרֵם לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָה. חוּץ מֵהָאֵם עִם בְּנָהּ וְהָאָב עִם בִּתּוֹ וְהַבַּעַל עִם אִשְׁתּוֹ נִדָּה. וְחָתָן שֶׁפֵּרְסָה אִשְׁתּוֹ נִדָּה קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּבְעל אָסוּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ אֶלָּא הִיא יְשֵׁנָה בֵּין הַנָּשִׁים וְהוּא יָשֵׁן בֵּין הָאֲנָשִׁים. וְאִם בָּא עָלֶיהָ בִּיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִטְמֵאת מֻתָּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ:

It is forbidden to enter into privacy with any of the woman forbidden as ariot, even if she is elderly or a young girl, for this leads to forbidden relations. [The only] exceptions are a woman and her son, a father and his daughter, and a husband with his wife who is in the niddah state. When a bridegroom's wife menstruates before he engages in relations with her, it is forbidden for him to enter into privacy with her. Instead, she should sleep among [other] women and he should sleep among [other] men. If they engaged in relations once and afterwards, she became impure, he is permitted to enter into privacy with her.

לֹא נֶחְשְׁדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל מִשְׁכַּב זָכוּר וְעַל הַבְּהֵמָה. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין אָסוּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהֶן. וְאִם נִתְרַחֵק אֲפִלּוּ מִיִּחוּד זָכוּר וּבְהֵמָה הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח. וּגְדוֹלֵי הַחֲכָמִים הָיוּ מַרְחִיקִין הַבְּהֵמָה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְיַחֲדוּ עִמָּהּ. וְאִסּוּר יִחוּד הָעֲרָיוֹת מִפִּי הַקַּבָּלָה:

Jewish men were not suspected of engaging in relations with men or with animals. Hence, there is no prohibition against entering into privacy with them. If, however, a person distances himself from entering into privacy even with a male or an animal, it is praiseworthy. Sages of great stature would distance themselves from animals so that they would not be alone with them. The prohibition against entering into privacy with woman forbidden as ariot has been transmitted by the Oral Tradition.

כְּשֶׁאֵרַע מַעֲשֶׂה אַמְנוֹן וְתָמָר גָּזַר דָּוִד וּבֵית דִּינוֹ עַל יִחוּד פְּנוּיָה. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָהּ עֶרְוָה בִּכְלַל יִחוּד עֲרָיוֹת הִיא. וְשַׁמַּאי וְהִלֵּל גָּזְרוּ עַל יִחוּד כּוּתִית. נִמְצָא כָּל הַמִּתְיַחֵד עִם אִשָּׁה שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ בֵּין יִשְׂרְאֵלִית בֵּין כּוּתִית מַכִּין אֶת שְׁנֵיהֶן מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת הָאִישׁ וְהָאִשָּׁה. וּמַכְרִיזִין עֲלֵיהֶן. חוּץ מֵאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ אִם נִתְיַחֵד אֵין לוֹקִין. שֶׁלֹּא לְהוֹצִיא לַעַז עָלֶיהָ שֶׁזִּנְּתָה וְנִמְצְאוּ מוֹצִיאִין לַעַז עַל הַבָּנִים שֶׁהֵן מַמְזֵרִים:

When the incident concerning Amnon and Tamar occurred, David and his court decreed a prohibition against entering into privacy with an unmarried woman. Although an unmarried woman is not an ervah, such an act is considered as entering into privacy with an ervah. Shammai and Hillel decreed a prohibition against entering into privacy with gentiles. Thus when anyone enters into privacy with a woman, whether Jew or gentile, with whom such an act is forbidden, both the man and the woman are given stripes for rebellious conduct and an announcement is made concerning them. An exception is made with regard to a married woman. Although it is forbidden to enter into privacy with her, if one does enter into privacy with her, corporal punishment is not administered lest a rumor be initiated that she committed adultery. Thus a rumor might spread that her children are mamzerim.

כָּל אִשָּׁה שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ אִם הָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת לְהִתְיַחֵד מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ מְשַׁמַּרְתּוֹ. אֲבָל לֹא תִּתְיַחֵד יִשְׂרְאֵלִית עִם הַכּוּתִי וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ שֶׁאֵין אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל כּוּתִי מְשַׁמַּרְתּוֹ וְאֵין לָהֶן בּוּשָׁה:

Whenever a man is forbidden to enter into privacy with a woman, this act is permitted if he is accompanied by his wife, for his wife will guard him [against transgression]. A Jewish woman should not enter into privacy with a gentile man even if his wife is with him. For a gentile's wife will not guard him [against transgression] and they have no shame.

וְכֵן אֵין מוֹסְרִין תִּינוֹק יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכוּתִי לְלַמְּדוֹ סֵפֶר וּלְלַמְּדוֹ אָמָּנוּת. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכֻּלָּן חֲשׁוּדִין עַל מִשְׁכַּב זָכוּר. וְאֵין מַעֲמִידִין בְּהֵמָה בְּפֻנְדָּקִיּוֹת שֶׁל כּוּתִים וַאֲפִלּוּ זְכָרִים אֵצֶל זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת אֵצֶל נְקֵבוֹת:

Similarly, a Jewish child should not be entrusted to a gentile with the intent that he teach him to read or teach him a craft, for all gentiles are suspect to engage in homosexual relations. Similarly, we do not house an animal in an inn belonging to gentiles, not even a male in an inn with males and a female in an inn with females.

וְאֵין מוֹסְרִין בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וְעוֹף לְרוֹעֶה כּוּתִי אֲפִלּוּ זְכָרִים לְכוּתִים וּנְקֵבוֹת לְכוּתִית מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכֻּלָּן חֲשׁוּדִין עַל הַרְבָּעַת בְּהֵמָה וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ שֶׁהֵן אֲסוּרִין בְּזָכוּר וּבִבְהֵמָה וְנֶאֱמַר (ויקרא יט יד) "וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשׁל":

We do not entrust an animal, beast, or fowl to a gentile shepherd, not even a male animal to a male shepherd and a female animal to a female shepherd, because they are all suspect to sodomize animals. We have already explained that [gentiles] are forbidden to engage in homosexuality or sodomy. And [Leviticus 19:14] states: "Do not place a stumbling block before the blind."

וּמִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין מוֹסְרִין בְּהֵמָה נְקֵבָה לְכוּתִית מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכֻּלָּן בְּחֶזְקַת נוֹאֲפִים וּכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא הַנּוֹאֵף לִשְׁכַּב עִם הַכּוּתִית זוֹ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצָאֶנָּה וְיִשְׁכַּב עִם הַבְּהֵמָה אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ יִמְצָאֶנָּה יִשְׁכַּב עִם הַבְּהֵמָה:

Why do we not entrust a female animal to a female gentile? For [all gentiles] are assumed to be promiscuous and when a gentile man will come to sleep with this gentile woman, it is possible that he will not find her and instead, sodomize the animal. Or even if he does find her, he may sodomize the animal.

לֹא תִּתְיַחֵד אִשָּׁה אַחַת אֲפִלּוּ עִם אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה עַד שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶם שָׁם. וְכֵן לֹא יִתְיַחֵד אִישׁ אֶחָד אֲפִלּוּ עִם נָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה. נָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה עִם אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לְיִחוּד. הָיוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים מִבַּחוּץ וְהַנָּשִׁים מִבִּפְנִים אוֹ הָאֲנָשִׁים מִבִּפְנִים וְהַנָּשִׁים מִבַּחוּץ וּפֵרְשָׁה אִשָּׁה אַחַת לְבֵין הָאֲנָשִׁים אוֹ אִישׁ לְבֵין הַנָּשִׁים אֲסוּרִין מִשּׁוּם יִחוּד. אֲפִלּוּ אִישׁ שֶׁעִסְקוֹ וּמְלַאכְתּוֹ עִם הַנָּשִׁים אָסוּר לוֹ לְהִתְיַחֵד עִם הַנָּשִׁים. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה. יִתְעַסֵּק עִמָּהֶן וְאִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ אוֹ יִפְנֶה לִמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת:

One woman should not enter into privacy even with many men unless the wife of one of them is present. Similarly, one man should not enter into privacy even with many women, But when there are many women together with many men, we do not show concern for the prohibition against entering into privacy. If the men were outside and the women were inside or if the men were inside and the women were outside, and one woman - or one man - separated themselves and joined the group of the other sex, the prohibition against entering into privacy applies. Even a man whose business and profession [brings him into contact] with women is forbidden to enter into privacy with them. What should he do? He should involve himself with them while accompanied by his wife or turn to another profession.

מֻתָּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִם שְׁתֵּי יְבָמוֹת. אוֹ עִם שְׁתֵּי צָרוֹת. אוֹ עִם אִשָּׁה וַחֲמוֹתָהּ. אוֹ עִם אִשָּׁה וּבַת בַּעְלָהּ. אוֹ עִם אִשָּׁה וּבַת חֲמוֹתָהּ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשּׂוֹנְאוֹת זוֹ אֶת זוֹ וְאֵין מְחַפּוֹת זוֹ עַל זוֹ. וְכֵן מֻתָּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִם אִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ עִמָּהּ תִּינֹקֶת קְטַנָּה שֶׁיּוֹדַעַת טַעַם בִּיאָה וְאֵינָהּ מוֹסֶרֶת עַצְמָהּ לְבִיאָה. שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְזַנָּה בְּפָנֶיהָ שֶׁהֲרֵי זוֹ מְגַלָּה אֶת סוֹדָהּ:

It is permitted to enter into privacy with two yevamot, two wives of the same man, a woman and her mother-in-law, or a woman and her husband's daughter, a woman and her husband's daughter, or a woman and her mother-in-law's daughter. [The rationale is that] these women hate each other and will not conceal the other's [misdeeds]. Similarly, it is permitted to enter into privacy with a woman who is accompanied by a young child old enough to understand what sexual relations are, but who would not engage in relations herself. [The rationale is that the woman] would not act promiscuously in the presence of this child, for she will reveal her secret.

תִּינֹקֶת מִבַּת שָׁלֹשׁ וּלְמַטָּה וְתִינוֹק בֶּן תֵּשַׁע וּלְמַטָּה מֻתָּר לְהִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהֶן. שֶׁלֹּא גָּזְרוּ אֶלָּא עַל יִחוּד אִשָּׁה הָרְאוּיָה לְבִיאָה וְאִישׁ הָרָאוּי לְבִיאָה:

It is permitted to enter into privacy with a female child less than three years old and a male child less than nine years old. For [our Sages] only issued decrees concerning entering into privacy with a woman fit to engage in relations and a male fit to engage in relations.

אַנְדְּרוֹגִינוּס אֵינוֹ מִתְיַחֵד עִם הַנָּשִׁים. וְאִם נִתְיַחֵד אֵין מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא סָפֵק. אֲבָל הָאִישׁ מִתְיַחֵד עִם הָאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוּס וְעִם הַטֻּמְטוּם:

An androgynus may not enter into privacy with women. If he does, he is not given physical punishment, because his status is doubtful. A man may enter into privacy with an androgynus or a tumtum.

אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ שֶׁהָיָה בַּעְלָהּ בָּעִיר אֵינָהּ חוֹשֶׁשֶׁת לְיִחוּד. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵימַת בַּעְלָהּ עָלֶיהָ. וְאִם הָיָה זֶה גַּס בָּהּ כְּגוֹן שֶׁגָּדְלָה עִמּוֹ אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה קְרוֹבָתוֹ לֹא יִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבַּעְלָהּ בָּעִיר. וְכֵן כָּל הַמִּתְיַחֵד עִם אִשָּׁה וְהָיָה הַפֶּתַח פָּתוּחַ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין מִשּׁוּם יִחוּד:

When a married woman's husband is in the [same] city, she need not be concerned about [the prohibition against] entering into privacy with another man, because she will be impressed by the fear of her husband. If a man is overly familiar with her, e.g., they grew up together or she is his relative, she should not enter into privacy with him even if her husband is in the same city. Whenever a man enters into a room with a woman, but there is a door open to the public thoroughfare, we are not concerned about [the prohibition against] entering into privacy.

מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אִשָּׁה לֹא יְלַמֵּד תִּינוֹקוֹת. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִמּוֹת הַבָּנִים בָּאוֹת לְבֵית הַסֵּפֶר לִבְנֵיהֶם וְנִמְצָא מִתְגָּרֶה בְּנָשִׁים. וְכֵן אִשָּׁה לֹא תְּלַמֵּד קְטַנִּים מִפְּנֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁהֵן בָּאִין בִּגְלַל בְּנֵיהֶם וְנִמְצְאוּ מִתְיַחֲדִים עִמָּהּ. וְאֵין הַמְלַמֵּד צָרִיךְ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אִשְׁתּוֹ שְׁרוּיָה עִמּוֹ בְּבֵית הַסֵּפֶר אֶלָּא הִיא בְּבֵיתָהּ וְהוּא מְלַמֵּד בִּמְקוֹמוֹ:

An unmarried man should not teach young children, because the mothers come to the school because of their sons and thus he will be tempted by women. Similarly, a woman should not teach young boys, because their fathers come because of their sons and thus they will enter into privacy with her. A teacher does not have to have his wife together with him in school, It is sufficient that she be at home, while he teaches in his place.

תִּקְּנוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁתִּהְיֶינָה הַנָּשִׁים מְסַפְּרוֹת זוֹ עִם זוֹ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס שָׁם אִישׁ מִשּׁוּם יִחוּד:

Our Sages ordained that women speak to each other while in a lavatory, so that a man will not enter there and thus be alone with them.

אֵין מְמַנִּין אֲפִלּוּ אָדָם נֶאֱמָן וְכָשֵׁר לִהְיוֹת שׁוֹמֵר חָצֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם נָשִׁים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד בַּחוּץ שֶׁאֵין אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס לַעֲרָיוֹת. וְאָסוּר לְאָדָם לְמַנּוֹת אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס עַל בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַנְהִיג אִשְׁתּוֹ לִדְבַר עֲבֵרָה:

We do not appoint even a faithful and observant person to be a guard of a courtyard where women live. [This applies] even if he stands outside, for there is no guardian against promiscuity. It is forbidden for a person to appoint a supervisor over his home so that he does not lead his wife to sin.

אָסוּר לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם לִשְׁכֹּן בְּחָצֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ אַלְמָנָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ מִפְּנֵי הַחֲשָׁד. אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ. וְכֵן אַלְמָנָה אֲסוּרָה לְגַדֵּל כֶּלֶב מִפְּנֵי הַחֲשָׁד. וְלֹא תִּקְנֶה אִשָּׁה עֲבָדִים זְכָרִים אֲפִלּוּ קְטַנִּים מִפְּנֵי הַחֲשָׁד:

It is forbidden for a Torah scholar to dwell in a courtyard where a widow lives even though he does not enter into privacy with her lest suspicions arise unless his wife is with him. Similarly, a widow should not raise a dog because of the suspicions that might arise. Nor should a woman purchase male servants - even minors - because of the suspicions that may arise.

אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בְּסִתְרֵי עֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָאֶחָד טָרוּד בִּשְׁאֵלַת הָרַב וְהַשְּׁנַיִם נוֹשְׂאִין וְנוֹתְנִין זֶה עִם זֶה וְאֵין דַּעְתָּם פְּנוּיָה לִשְׁמֹעַ. שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם קְרוֹבָה אֵצֶל עֲרָיוֹת. אִם נִסְתַּפֵּק לוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁשָּׁמַע מוֹרֶה לְהָקֵל. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין אֶלָּא לִשְׁנַיִם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאֶחָד הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ מְפַנֶּה דַּעְתּוֹ וְיוֹדֵעַ מַה שֶּׁיִּשְׁמַע מִן הָרַב:

We do not relate the hidden matters concerning forbidden sexual conduct to three students. [The rationale is that] one will be absorbed in questioning the teacher, the other two will be debating the matter back and forth and will not be free to listen. Since a person's mind is aroused by sexual matters, if a doubt arises concerning something he heard, he may [in error] rule leniently. Therefore, we teach only to two. In this manner, the one listening will focus his attention and recall what he will hear from the teacher.

אֵין לְךָ דָּבָר בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ שֶׁהוּא קָשֶׁה לְרֹב הָעָם לִפְרשׁ אֶלָּא מִן הָעֲרָיוֹת וְהַבִּיאוֹת הָאֲסוּרוֹת. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל הָעֲרָיוֹת בָּכוּ וְקִבְּלוּ מִצְוָה זוֹ בְּתַרְעוֹמוֹת וּבְכִיָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יא י) "בֹּכֶה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָיו" עַל עִסְקֵי מִשְׁפָּחוֹת:

There is nothing in the entire Torah that is more difficult for the majority of people to separate themselves from than sexual misconduct and forbidden relationships. Our Sages said: When the Jews were commanded regarding forbidden sexual relations, they wept and accepted this mitzvah with complaints and moaning, as implied by the phrase: "Crying among their families," [which is interpreted as meaning]: "Crying about family matters."

וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים גֵּזֶל וַעֲרָיוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מִתְאַוָּה לָהֶן וּמְחַמְּדָתָן. וְאֵין אַתָּה מוֹצֵא קָהָל בְּכָל זְמַן וּזְמַן שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן פְּרוּצִין בַּעֲרָיוֹת וּבִיאוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת. [וְעוֹד] אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים רֹב בְּגֵזֶל מִעוּט בַּעֲרָיוֹת וְהַכּל בַּאֲבַק לָשׁוֹן הָרַע:

Our Sages said: A person's soul desires and craves theft and forbidden sexual relations. You will never find a community that does not have some people who are promiscuous regarding forbidden relationships and prohibited sexual conduct. Moreover, our Sages said: Most people trespass with regard to theft; a minority with regard to forbidden sexual conduct, and all with regard to the shade of undesirable gossip.

לְפִיכָךְ רָאוּי לוֹ לְאָדָם לָכֹף יִצְרוֹ בְּדָבָר זֶה וּלְהַרְגִּיל עַצְמוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה יְתֵרָה וּבְמַחֲשָׁבָה טְהוֹרָה וּבְדֵעָה נְכוֹנָה כְּדֵי לְהִנָּצֵל מֵהֶן. וְיִזָּהֵר מִן הַיִּחוּד שֶׁהוּא הַגּוֹרֵם הַגָּדוֹל. גְּדוֹלֵי הַחֲכָמִים הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לְתַלְמִידֵיהֶם הִזָּהֲרוּ בִּי מִפְּנֵי בִּתִּי הִזָּהֲרוּ בִּי מִפְּנֵי כַּלָּתִי. כְּדֵי לְלַמֵּד לְתַלְמִידֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִתְבַּיְּשׁוּ מִדָּבָר זֶה וְיִתְרַחֲקוּ מִן הַיִּחוּד:

It is therefore fitting for a person to restrain his inclinations in this matter and to conduct himself with utmost holiness, pure thoughts and correct opinions to save himself from them. He should be cautious about seclusion because it is the main cause [of these sins]. The greatest among the Sages told their students, "watch me becuase it is my daugher" or "watch me because of my sister-in law" [whom one would assume one doesn't lust after] so that their students shouldn't be embarassed from this and would stay far away from seclusion.

וְכֵן יִנְהֹג לְהִתְרַחֵק מִן הַשְּׂחוֹק וּמִן הַשִּׁכְרוּת וּמִדִּבְרֵי עֲגָבִים שֶׁאֵלּוּ גּוֹרְמִין גְּדוֹלִים וְהֵם מַעֲלוֹת שֶׁל עֲרָיוֹת. וְלֹא יֵשֵׁב בְּלֹא אִשָּׁה שֶׁמִּנְהָג זֶה גּוֹרֵם לְטָהֳרָה יְתֵרָה. גְּדוֹלָה מִכָּל זֹאת אָמְרוּ יַפְנֶה עַצְמוֹ וּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ לְדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה וְיַרְחִיב דַּעְתּוֹ בַּחָכְמָה שֶׁאֵין מַחְשֶׁבֶת עֲרָיוֹת מִתְגַּבֶּרֶת אֶלָּא בְּלֵב פָּנוּי מִן הַחָכְמָה. וּבַחָכְמָה הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי ה יט) "אַיֶּלֶת אֲהָבִים וְיַעֲלַת חֵן דַּדֶּיהָ יְרַוֵּךָ בְכָל עֵת בְּאַהֲבָתָהּ תִּשְׁגֶּה תָמִיד":

Similarly, a person should accustom himself to stay far away from levity,drunkenness,and flirting because there are all major causes of the violation of prohibitions regarding forbidden sexual relationships. Also, one should not stay unmarried because this practice [of being married] is a cause of great purity. Greater than all these [our Sages] said that one should turn himself and his thoughts to words of Torah and immerse his mind in wisdom because sexual thoughts do not rule in one's mind except in the mind of one who's heart is turned away from wisdom. Regarding wisdom it is said, "It is a beloved hind, arousing favor. Her breasts will satisfy you at all times. You shall be obsessed with her love."