The Politics of Repression, part two: Marc Gafni

Islamic fundamentalism was not the first to attempt at the repression of liberty through the crushing of the erotic and the sexual.

There is an absolutely wonderful ancient tradition about eros and liberty. It describes how the Hebrew slaves managed to attain freedom in the great chronicle of the exodus.

“When the Israelites were enslaved in harsh labor in Egypt, Pharaoh decreed (gazar) that they not sleep at home nor have sexual relations with their wives. What did the daughters of Israel do? They would go down and draw water from the river and God would provide for them little fish in their buckets. They would cook them, sell them, and buy wine with the money. They would then go to the fields and feed their husbands.

“After they had eaten and drunk together, the women would take out mirrors and look at themselves and their men in the mirror. Teasing them they would say, ‘I am more beautiful than you.’ In this way, they would open them up again to desire.”

marc gafni
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