In_II a_AT1 Manhattan_NP1 Classroom_NN1 ,_, Judaism_NN1 Meets_VVZ the_AT Facts_NN2 of_IO Life_NN1 Nearing_VVG his_APPGE ninth_MD decade_NNT1 ,_, formal_JJ in_II vested_JJ suit_NN1 and_CC cufflinks_NN2 ,_, Rabbi_NNB Haskel_NP1 Lookstein_NP1 strode_VVD purposefully_RR into_II a_AT1 classroom_NN1 of_IO Ramaz_NP1 High_JJ School_NN1 on_II Manhattan_NP1 's_GE Upper_JJ East_ND1 Side_NN1 one_MC1 recent_JJ Monday_NPD1 afternoon_NNT1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 checked_VVD the_AT presence_NN1 and_CC location_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE 18_MC students_NN2 against_II a_AT1 seating_NN1 chart_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 chided_VVD one_PN1 for_IF arriving_VVG moments_NN2 late_RR ._. 
Then_RT he_PPHS1 led_VVD off_II the_AT discussion_NN1 of_IO the_AT homework_NN1 assignment_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 consisted_VVD of_IO an_AT1 article_NN1 from_II the_AT national_JJ Jewish_JJ newspaper_NN1 ,_, The_AT Forward_NN1 ,_, about_II a_AT1 married_JJ couple_NN1 who_PNQS participate_VV0 avidly_RR in_II both_DB2 synagogue_NN1 and_CC swinging_JJ ._. 
"_" Are_VBR n't_XX these_DD2 people_NN just_RR being_VBG honest_JJ ?_? "_" 
Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 asked_VVD ._. 
Five_MC or_CC six_MC hands_NN2 immediately_RR shot_VVN up_RP ._. 
So_RR began_VVD another_DD1 day_NNT1 in_II Jewish_JJ Sexual_JJ Ethics_NN ,_, the_AT course_NN1 better_RRR known_VVN around_II Ramaz_NP1 ,_, even_RR to_II its_APPGE teacher_NN1 ,_, as_CSA "_" Sex_NN1 With_IW the_AT Rabbi_NN1 ._. "_" 
For_IF the_AT last_MD 23_MC years_NNT2 ,_, since_CS Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 devised_VVD the_AT class_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 has_VHZ taught_VVN it_PPH1 to_II every_AT1 10th_MD grader_NN1 to_TO pass_VVI through_II Ramaz_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 Modern_JJ Orthodox_JJ institution_NN1 combining_VVG rigorous_JJ secular_JJ and_CC religious_JJ curriculums_NN2 ._. 
"_" This_DD1 is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT favorite_JJ things_NN2 I_PPIS1 do_VD0 in_II the_AT world_NN1 ,_, "_" Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 ,_, 77_MC ,_, said_VVD in_II a_AT1 recent_JJ interview_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 love_VV0 the_AT interaction_NN1 with_IW students_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC being_VBG able_JK to_TO open_VVI their_APPGE eyes_NN2 to_II the_AT way_NN1 in_II which_DDQ Judaism_NN1 approaches_VVZ the_AT basic_JJ facts_NN2 of_IO life_NN1 ._. "_" 
Over_II the_AT span_NN1 of_IO 18_MC sessions_NNT2 ,_, Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 covers_VVZ topics_NN2 from_II infidelity_NN1 to_II abortion_NN1 ,_, same-sex_JJ marriage_NN1 to_II religious_JJ divorce_NN1 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 the_AT Jewish_JJ laws_NN2 dictating_VVG family_NN1 purity_NN1 ,_, or_CC taharat_VV0 hamishpacha_NN1 ._. 
The_AT readings_NN2 range_VV0 from_II newspaper_NN1 articles_NN2 to_II theological_JJ essays_NN2 ,_, and_CC the_AT discussion_NN1 in_II the_AT classroom_NN1 is_VBZ unrestrained_JJ ._. 
Once_RR ,_, that_REX21 is_REX22 ,_, the_AT students_NN2 get_VV0 over_RP the_AT initial_JJ shock_NN1 of_IO listening_VVG to_II a_AT1 gray-haired_JJ authority_NN1 figure_NN1 talk_NN1 about_II menstruation_NN1 or_CC homosexuality_NN1 or_CC spouse-swapping_NN1 ._. 
The_AT slang_NN1 name_NN1 for_IF the_AT course_NN1 plays_VVZ on_II the_AT incongruity_NN1 ._. 
"_" Like_II many_DA2 other_JJ students_NN2 in_II my_APPGE class_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ pretty_RG nervous_JJ about_II taking_VVG the_AT course_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Oren_NP1 Neiman_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 15-year-old_JJ sophomore_NN1 who_PNQS took_VVD the_AT class_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 wondered_VVD if_CS a_AT1 world-renowned_JJ and_CC extremely_RR prominent_JJ Jewish_JJ figure_NN1 would_VM be_VBI able_JK to_TO create_VVI an_AT1 atmosphere_NN1 where_RRQ sophomores_NN2 in_II high_JJ school_NN1 feel_VV0 comfortable_JJ to_TO openly_RR and_CC honestly_RR discuss_VV0 sexuality_NN1 with_IW him_PPHO1 ._. "_" 
Anna_NP1 Wagner_NP1 ,_, 16_MC ,_, a_AT1 junior_NN1 who_PNQS took_VVD the_AT class_NN1 last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, recalled_VVD :_: "_" It_PPH1 takes_VVZ time_NNT1 ,_, for_RR21 sure_RR22 ._. 
But_CCB after_CS the_AT first_MD couple_NN1 of_IO classes_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 warmed_VVD up_RP ._. "_" 
In_II the_AT kind_NN1 of_IO prep_NN1 schools_NN2 Ramaz_NP1 sees_VVZ as_RG scholastic_JJ peers_NN2 ,_, the_AT notion_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 required_JJ course_NN1 covering_VVG sexuality_NN1 might_VM seem_VVI ,_, if_CS anything_PN1 ,_, irrelevant_JJ by_II 10th_MD grade_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 're_VBR in_II "_" Gossip_NN1 Girl_NN1 "_" territory_NN1 here_RL ,_, after_II all_DB ._. 
For_IF an_AT1 Orthodox_JJ day-school_NN1 or_CC yeshiva_NN1 ,_, however_RR ,_, the_AT subject_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 land_NN1 mine_NN1 that_CST many_DA2 principals_NN2 ,_, teachers_NN2 and_CC parents_NN2 would_VM sooner_RRR avoid_VVI than_CSN risk_NN1 setting_VVG off_RP ._. 
And_CC on_II issues_NN2 far_RR beyond_II sexuality_NN1 --_NN1 conversion_NN1 standards_NN2 ,_, interaction_NN1 with_IW Reform_NN1 and_CC Conservative_JJ rabbis_NN2 ,_, even_RR the_AT degrees_NN2 of_IO kosher_JJ for_IF lettuce_NN1 and_CC broccoli_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT Modern_JJ Orthodox_JJ sector_NN1 has_VHZ spent_VVN much_DA1 of_IO the_AT last_MD generation_NN1 on_II the_AT defensive_JJ against_II an_AT1 increasingly_RR confident_JJ and_CC assertive_JJ haredi_NN1 ,_, or_CC ultra-Orthodox_JJ ,_, faction_NN1 ._. 
So_RR maybe_RR it_PPH1 takes_VVZ the_AT unique_JJ position_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Haskel_NP1 Lookstein_NP1 to_TO push_VVI the_AT limits_NN2 without_IW being_VBG pushed_VVN back_RP ._. 
As_CSA rabbi_NN1 of_IO Congregation_NN1 Kehilath_NP1 Jeshurun_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 represents_VVZ the_AT third_MD generation_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE family_NN1 to_TO preside_VVI over_II its_APPGE pulpit_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, Rabbi_NNB Joseph_NP1 Lookstein_NP1 ,_, founded_VVD the_AT Ramaz_NP1 school_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ covers_VVZ all_DB elementary_JJ and_CC secondary_JJ grades_NN2 ._. 
"_" Am_VB0 I_PPIS1 playing_VVG on_II my_APPGE stature_NN1 to_II some_DD extent_NN1 ?_? "_" 
Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 asked_VVD rhetorically_RR ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 guess_VV0 the_AT truth_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST I_PPIS1 am_VBM relying_VVG on_II the_AT trust_NN1 people_NN have_VH0 in_II me_PPIO1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 'm_VBM not_XX worried_VVN about_II someone_PN1 looking_VVG over_RP my_APPGE shoulder_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB when_CS I_PPIS1 'm_VBM not_XX able_JK to_TO do_VDI this_DD1 class_NN1 anymore_RR ,_, someone_PN1 else_RR will_VM have_VHI to_TO ._. "_" 
Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 orchestrates_VVZ the_AT course_NN1 in_II a_AT1 manner_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ at_RR21 once_RR22 scholarly_JJ and_CC freewheeling_VVG ._. 
Rather_II21 than_II22 declaring_VVG moral_JJ absolutes_NN2 ,_, even_RR where_CS they_PPHS2 exist_VV0 in_II Jewish_JJ law_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 plays_VVZ the_AT relativist_NN1 to_TO stir_VVI discussion_NN1 ._. 
And_CC his_APPGE words_NN2 fall_VV0 on_II teenagers_NN2 just_RR at_II a_AT1 hinge_NN1 in_II their_APPGE own_DA sexual_JJ lives_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 mishmash_NN1 of_IO Ugg_NN1 boots_NN2 and_CC Hannah_NP1 Montana_NP1 backpacks_NN2 ,_, emerging_VVG beards_NN2 and_CC unruly_JJ cowlicks_NN2 ._. 
"_" What_DDQ do_VD0 these_DD2 people_NN think_VVI about_II sex_NN1 ?_? "_" 
Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 asked_VVD the_AT Monday_NPD1 class_NN1 about_II the_AT swinging_JJ Jews_NN2 in_II the_AT Forward_JJ article_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 girl_NN1 answered_VVD :_: "_" They_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX think_VVI it_PPH1 has_VHZ anything_PN1 to_TO do_VDI with_IW love_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 think_VV0 it_PPH1 's_VBZ just_RR fun_JJ ._. "_" 
Then_RT Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 said_VVD words_NN2 that_CST ,_, while_CS rooted_VVN in_II Jewish_JJ text_NN1 and_CC tradition_NN1 ,_, the_AT students_NN2 might_VM have_VHI considered_VVN TMI_NP1 (_( for_IF the_AT generationally_RR challenged_VVN ,_, that_DD1 means_VVZ too_RG much_DA1 information_NN1 )_) ._. 
"_" Sex_NN1 is_VBZ fun_JJ ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" Sex_NN1 is_VBZ pleasurable_JJ ,_, no_AT question_NN1 about_II it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 paused_VVD while_CS the_AT shock_NN1 waves_NN2 rippled_VVD ._. 
"_" But_CCB from_II the_AT way_NN1 you_PPY react_VV0 to_II this_DD1 article_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ something_PN1 else_RR ._. 
What_DDQ 's_VBZ that_DD1 something_PN1 else_RR ?_? "_" 
Responses_NN2 poured_VVD forth_RR ._. 
Sacred_JJ ,_, special_JJ ,_, holy_JJ ,_, separate_VV0 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 really_RR has_VHZ to_TO do_VDI with_IW relationships_NN2 ,_, "_" Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 said_VVD ,_, summing_VVG up_RP ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 is_VBZ n't_XX just_RR something_PN1 you_PPY do_VD0 ._. "_" 
Two_MC days_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, with_IW a_AT1 different_JJ group_NN1 of_IO sophomores_NN2 ,_, Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 talked_VVD about_II some_DD of_IO the_AT obligations_NN2 in_II a_AT1 Jewish_JJ marriage_NN1 ,_, obligations_NN2 that_CST deal_VV0 not_XX with_IW material_JJ support_NN1 or_CC safety_NN1 but_CCB with_IW sexual_JJ conduct_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ does_VDZ it_PPH1 mean_VVI to_TO coerce_VVI a_AT1 spouse_NN1 into_II sex_NN1 ?_? 
Is_VBZ it_PPH1 infidelity_NN1 to_TO fantasize_VVI about_II another_DD1 woman_NN1 while_CS having_VHG intercourse_NN1 with_IW your_APPGE wife_NN1 ?_? 
When_RRQ is_VBZ sex_NN1 ,_, even_RR with_IW your_APPGE husband_NN1 or_CC wife_NN1 ,_, exploitative_JJ ?_? 
"_" The_AT Ramaz_NN1 that_CST I_PPIS1 've_VH0 associated_VVN myself_PPX1 with_IW ,_, "_" Rabbi_NNB Lookstein_NP1 said_VVD in_II the_AT interview_NN1 ,_, "_" prides_VVZ itself_PPX1 on_II being_VBG open_JJ to_II all_DB issues_NN2 ,_, to_II all_DB views_NN2 ,_, while_CS maintaining_VVG its_APPGE Modern_JJ Orthodox_JJ stance_NN1 ._. 
Nowhere_RL does_VDZ that_DD1 get_VVI more_RGR difficult_JJ than_CSN in_II the_AT area_NN1 of_IO sexual_JJ ethics_NN ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 keep_VV0 saying_VVG to_II the_AT students_NN2 as_CSA we_PPIS2 move_VV0 along_RP in_II the_AT course_NN1 ,_, 'I_UH believe_VV0 there_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 right_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 wrong_JJ ._. 
But_CCB you_PPY 're_VBR going_VVGK to_TO make_VVI a_AT1 decision_NN1 ._. '_" 
So_RR it_PPH1 's_VBZ better_JJR not_XX to_TO just_RR come_VVI down_RP on_II them_PPHO2 with_IW a_AT1 heavy-handed_JJ moral_JJ absolutism_NN1 ._. "_" 
