April 28, 1995 • Page Image 35
…The Hebrew Bible deals frankly with many manifesta- tions of the sex drive, licit and il- licit, and recognizes its profound influence on one's emotion and behavior. Attitudes of the ancient pagan world in Canaan and Mesopotamia were very different from ancient Israel as illustrat- ed in this sedrah. In Canaan, Mesopotamia, even Egypt, the central religious ele- ment combined the worship of the mother goddess known as As- tarte or Ishtar.Even ...…

















































