157

Not to have homosexual sexual relations

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
וְאֶ֨ת־זָכָ֔ר לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה הִֽוא׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
Leviticus 18:22 - "You shall not lie down with a male, as with a woman: this is an abomination."

This Mitzvah's Summary

מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה

Forbidden for a man to have homosexual relations with another man.

This mitzvah prohibits male homosexual relations. The Torah defines such an act as a to’evah (abomination), emphasizing its severity and its contradiction to the sanctity of Israel’s moral code. While Torah law demands compassion and dignity toward all people, it also establishes clear sexual boundaries that preserve holiness, family life, and societal order.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 1:14): Rules that homosexual intercourse is a capital offense, categorized among the arayot (forbidden unions).
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 209): The root is to distance Israel from depraved practices of surrounding nations and to sanctify intimate life.
  • Talmud (Sanhedrin 54a): Discusses the details of liability and punishment, underscoring the Torah’s view of its severity.
(Source: Chabad.org)

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Holiness - קְדֻשָּׁה

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Represents the concept of  spiritual intentionality, purity, and sanctity—set apart for a higher purpose.

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Reverence - יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם

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Signifies awe and reverence toward Hashem—living with awareness of His greatness and presence.

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Between a person and G-d - בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

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Mitzvot that define and deepen the relationship between a person and their Creator. These include commandments involving belief, prayer, Shabbat, festivals, sacrifices, and personal holiness — acts rooted in divine connection rather than human interaction.

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Between a person and their fellow - בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

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Encompasses mitzvot that govern ethical behavior, kindness, and justice in human relationships.

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