אבן עזרא, ויקרא יח:כב
Since the male was created to act and the female to be acted on, the verse [prohibiting male intercourse] reminds us not to overturn the word of God.
[Translation by Rabbi Steve Greenberg]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Here the Ibn Ezra equates the way nature appears to order things with God's word. Is this always true? Does this challenge the mitzvah of circumcision, for example?
2. Can you list aspects of nature that we aspire to and other aspects of nature that we as humans resist or even fight?
3. If only ten percent of people are left handed does that mean that we ought to force them to use their right hand?
4. There are 380 species of animals that express same-sex relations according to researcher, Bruce Bagemihl. Might this mean that homosexuality is another expression of the "natural?"
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)