A very interesting article about Jews in the SM scene and rabbinical attitudes towards BDSM.

The ties that bind

After 5000 years of persecution, you'd think we'd be sick of it: name-calling, whips and chains, submitting to dominance. We Jews ought to be pretty over that whole scene by now. And we are -- until it comes to the bedroom door. Most sex experts estimate that ten to fifteen percent of sexually active adults regularly go in for kinky sex -- and much as our rabbis might prefer to keep it under wraps, the tribe fits right into that kink-inclined population.

Jews who like it a little different have been going public lately, coming clean about their interest in the intertwined cultures of sadomasochism, bondage, and leather play. Many express this by joining fetish groups: some general interest, some drawn together precisely because of a shared affinity for knishes and kreplach. At this past November's Fetish Fair Fleamarket, an annual event in Boston that brings together BDSM leaders, practitioners, and the just plain curious, one of the most popular discussion sessions was "Birds of a Feather" -- a space for Jewish conference participants to discuss pressing issues like how to reconcile traditional Jewish views of sexual behavior with an active BDSM lifestyle....

January 24, 2005 in Religion | Permalink

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The article also quotes Vivienne Kramer, the Chair of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. www.ncsfreedom.org

Posted by: Alan at Jan 24, 2005 10:36:20 AM

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Oy vey iz mir! This is just too much. A room full of Jews.. in leather? I guess it's not too far removed from the usual older ladies with big glasses in leather pants. Getting a piercing there would be like my Bar Mitzvah all over again, though.. or worse, my bris! I guess my people ARE the inventors of CBT. Imagine how difficult it has been all along for kinky Jews to refer to Egypt as the "house of Bondage" or wrap themselves up in the leather straps of tefillin. And for masochists, there is always my mother's cooking. :P

Posted by: Pantiespantiespanties at Jan 24, 2005 2:54:45 PM

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And my ex said "Jews don't do those things." Then again, she never understood or tolerated BDSM. Oh, well.

Posted by: paul at Jan 24, 2005 3:37:44 PM

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