Mitzvah —
149
Not to have sexual relations with your father's sister
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עֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחוֹת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה שְׁאֵ֥ר אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
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Leviticus 18:12 - "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is the close relative of your father."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
Forbidden to have sexual relations with one’s father’s sister.
This mitzvah prohibits intimacy with one’s paternal aunt. The Torah emphasizes that she is the she’er (close relative) of one’s father, highlighting the deep familial bond that must remain inviolate. Such an act falls under the category of arayot (forbidden unions), carrying severe punishment and undermining the dignity and purity of the family structure.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 2:10): Clearly forbids sexual relations with one’s father’s sister as part of the core incest laws.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 198): The root is to preserve holiness within the family, prevent disgraceful confusion of roles, and uphold respect for close kinship.
- Talmud (Sanhedrin 76a): Details the gravity of intimacy with an aunt, equating it with other core prohibitions in the arayot.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
