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Rabbi's Rx For Sexless Marriage

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach mixes Kaballah and Tantra to help couples restore desire to their sex lives.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's spiritual approach to fixing relationships—specifically those where passion has waned—doesn't only ring true with devoted followers. His first spiritual sex book, Kosher Sex, became an international bestseller and helped secure his place as a national media darling. This year, Boteach released The Kosher Sutra: 8 Sacred Secrets for Reigniting Desire and Restoring Passion for Life, which prescribes Kabbalistc and Tantric principles for couples struggling in sexually or emotionally mediocre marriages.

In this excerpt, Boteach tells one couple how using Tantra can help them live in a heightened state. By focusing on the moment without expectation of the end result, sexual passion can be coaxed alive (and sustained!) in a couple. Not your average rabbinical advice, but we'll take Boteach's word for it. He and his wife, Debbie, do have nine children, after all.

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By the time Meg and Danny came to see me, they had not had sex in more than a year. Meg had put on weight, but Danny denied that was the reason he did not feel like having sex with his wife. He said he simply had not been in the mood for many months. He complained that his wife bullied him into it, made him feel guilty about not desiring her, and that just diminished his interest in her even more. He said he felt generally lethargic. It wasn't directed at his wife. He just felt uninspired, like he had no energy.

One comment he made shocked me: "If my wife continues to badger me on this sex thing, then I think I want a divorce." For her part, Meg said that her husband not touching her at night was torturing her. She felt ugly and unwanted. She wanted her husband to be intimate with her.

"We're not roommates, for goodness' sake. We're married. This is unnatural." I told them to start slow.

"Meg, don't push your husband for sex. Rather, when he comes home at night, massage his shoulders. Help him relieve tension. Do that for a few days. Then Danny, like any gentleman, you have to reciprocate. You should start by massaging your wife's shoulders. From there the two of you can progress to lying in bed and giving each other soft sensual massages for a few minutes each night. If you feel like doing it longer, do it longer. And if you then feel like you're desiring each other more, slowly progress to more intense forms of intimacy. But only if you feel like it. But here's the catch. Do not climax. Neither of you. As it is, Danny, your libido's running on fumes. So don't let any sexual steam leak out."

They followed my advice. With a few hiccups, it began to work. After two weeks of touching each other, Danny wanted to have sex with his wife. They did so without climax, although both admitted it was challenging, and Danny had to leave the bed a few times to gain control. But he did it. They made it to a full week without orgasming. Sex became long and involved, lasting more than an hour each time.

Can you relate?

Discussion

justiensorf Single
Can Relate - Posted November 22, 2009

i am a huge fan of the Rabbi Kosher Sex is a revolutionary approach to sex, marriage, and personal relationships great thanks

http://www.sexshop123.co.uk/

Score: 0

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justiensorf Single
Posted November 22, 2009

i have read this book rabbi shares ideas on how to keep a marriage passionate and alive. Although rooted in Jewish tradition, these ideas are universal in their appeal. rabbi really choose a great way to make sex alive for couples.

http://www.sexshop123.co.uk/

Score: 0
Agata Single
Posted September 16, 2009

I was sure that Orthodoxy prohibits the Jewish husband from directly observing his wife’s naked body parts at any time. But I was pleasantly surprised by the tips this Rabbi gave to the couple. Keeping the bedroom things FRESH! That's what everyone needs!
my source of sexperation: http://www.edenfantasys.com/

Score: 0
BookMama Married Happily Married
Posted July 8, 2009

Here's another great quote from the book.

http://www.yourtango.com/200927534/living-erotically

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Can Relate - Posted May 31, 2009

Yes, yes, YES! The rabbi is on the right track. Keeping love and intimacy alive and vibrant in a relationship provides physical, emotional and spiritual fulfuillment .

Diana Daffner, Author
Tantric Sex for Busy Couples

www.TantricSexforBusyCouples.com

Score: 0
nubiancoco Single
Posted May 2, 2009

OMG I WAS GETTING EXCITED JUST READING THIS.

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Qverb Taken Rugburns, sarcasm, giggling, beautiful
Posted April 30, 2009

You know whats kinda funny in all of this? It isn't really simply sex the Rabbi is advocating (and men of God do love to fornicate...its their religious gift after marriage!) but increased intimacy. What the excerpt describes is 2 people drifting apart and then pushing one another apart because of something that really isn't the issue. Lack of sex was simply systemic from the situation. The real lesson isn't simply how to increase your sex drive but how to increase the intimacy and awareness of one another in that relationship. Sex just tends to be the most common way of displaying intimacy (but never confuse the two).

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Kataroo Single Glass half full girl.
Posted April 28, 2009

I'm so glad the couple the rabbi helped were able to spice up their sex lives and rekindle their love for one another! What a great story

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BigAl Taken
Posted April 27, 2009

Sounds like a fabulous book and his advice sounds like it could work for couples who still are having sex, I mean who doesn't want to start of the night with a good massage?

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LeMaster Married I was born ready.
Posted April 27, 2009

Luckily I'm all set in the sex department in my marriage. My wife seems to be very pleased, but if something ever goes awry I guess I'll be looking up this rabbi. I never thought I'd say that.

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Lolita Single It all feels good.
Posted April 26, 2009

I've always thought marriages killed sex, at least that's what some of my friends tell me. I'll have to give the name of this book and this rabbi so they can be cured as well.

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Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted April 24, 2009

That is interesting. The principle makes sense. Don't nag and push, just be open and spent time with one another. The peace creates an atmosphere of love. I don't know about the other part, but it seemed to work for them.

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max Married hurt
Posted April 24, 2009

I LOVE STORY BECOUSE IT'S ABOUT ME AND MY HUSBAND. NO SEX FOR A LONG TIME BECOUSE OF ME I WAS SO FAT I LOST WEIGHT AND MY HUSBAND SAID TO ME I LOOK GOOD NOW WE HAVE SEX NOW .BUT MY MARRIAGE IS NOT SO GOOD BECOUSE OF ME NO ATTERTION FROM ME AND NO SEX I LOVE MY HUSBAND I KNOW I FELL GUITY ABOUT ALL OF THIS BECOUSE MY HUSBAND IS A GOOD MAN BACK IN DEC I LOOK IN MY HUS CELL AND A NUB COME UP HE WAS TALK ING TO SAME ONE NO DATES HE WAS TALKING BECOUSE OF NO ATTERTION FROM ME. HE SAID TO ME NO MORE CALL TO HER. MY HUS NEVEN LIED TO ME I;M GUITY OF THIS LOSE THE WEIGHT AND FELL GOOD ABOUT YOU. MAX

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Alex Complicated No nonsense about love!
Posted April 23, 2009

I'm surprised a rabbi is promoting Tantra. Wonder how long this works or if the couple can keep it going.

Score: 0
Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted April 24, 2009

Are Rabbi's supposed to be anti Tantra?

Score: 0

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