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Israel
Sex Festival Sextival Penetrates Tel Aviv
By
Joel Leyden The three day sex festival known as Sextival began as chilly, winter weather embraced those who approached Hanger 11, an old customs building and warehouse now turned into a huge special event hall. Passing by the many elegant and exclusive restaurants, stylish clothing stores, jazz clubs and stray cats on the boardwalk one had a sense of being out of place going to a "sex festival" in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Israel has always been known for its conservative sex demeanor rooted deeply in a Jewish religious undercurrent. Israel society had always been split into two different sexual cultures - the spoiled, cold Ashkenazi "Polish" Jewish female types who walks the walk but not much more. And the Eastern Jewish men and women proud of their hot blooded Morocco, Yemenite and Egypt heritage. Israelis don't speak much about sex. In fact, if one addresses a sexual topic too often as if he or she was in New York or Paris they just might be labeled in Israel as a "sex maniac." Not a very positive thing to say about a very healthy, positive natural act. But perhaps this three day Sextival might begin to change things. Israelis do not have the greatest reputation for being among the world's most accomplished lovers, although they do rank in the top five nations to procreate. Israel is a place without patience. Or as Israelis would say "ein savlanute." Almost everything is done in a hurry. And sex for many is left only for Friday afternoons after doing "sponger" or cleaning the house. Again, in the shadow of repressive sexual religious attitudes, sex is supposed to be a function and not really a prolonged event. Judaism sees the act of sex on Shabbat as a Mitzvah or doing good as that it reproduced more Jews. And who doesn't love children? But Israel is not Denmark nor is it Los Angeles or Madrid. Don't get me wrong. There are some good lovers out there. Just ask Mordechai Vanunu about Mossad agent Cindy! Moshe Dayan was known for more than just an eyepatch, Pnina Rosenblum went from good kisser to Member of Knesset and Cleopatra was born not far away. And as for beauty, Israel has some of the world's finest looking models including Shelly Gafni and Galit Gutman. In Jewish law, sex is not considered shameful, sinful or obscene. Although sexual desire comes from the yetzer ra (the evil impulse), it is no more evil than hunger or thirst, which also come from the yetzer ra. Jewish rabbis would say that like hunger, thirst or other basic instincts, sexual desire must be controlled and channeled, satisfied at the proper time, place and manner. But when sexual desire is satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire, sex is a mitzvah.
But now comes the basis of Jewish guilt. Sex is permissible only within the context of a marriage. Rabbis state that the primary purpose of sex is to "reinforce the loving marital bond between husband and wife". In the Torah, the word used for sex between husband and wife comes from the root Yod-Dalet-Ayin, meaning "to know," which vividly illustrates that proper Jewish sexuality involves both the heart and mind, not merely the body. So as one walks among the thousands of sex toys at the Sextival in Israel with thundering music and light shows massaging the senses, you ain't being totally Jewish as we trek into the world of pure physical pleasure. And that would be considered by many as sin. But there are also medical doctors and sexual therapists who would view the Sextival as perhaps one of the healthiest activities ever under taken in the modern Jewish state. That sex in itself is not dirty, nor sinful but a healthy and natural act between two (or more) consenting adults. The very fact that Durex, the condom manufacturer, was handing out free condoms was not so much to prevent pregnancies, but to reduce the incidence of STD or sexually transmitted diseases. Durex deserves much credit for having placed a giant inflatable condom inside the Israel sex festival Sextival with men dressed in white Durex branded sperm suits sitting inside playing football and holding up comical signs.
Sextival is a success in the very essence of the word when it came to creating more awareness about the pleasures of sex, sexual health and AIDS. How does Israel rank in the world of sex? The Global Sexual Wellbeing Survey, conducted by condom-maker Durex and released at theWorld Congress on Sexual Health in Sydney found most people around the globe had sex 106 times a year, with the Japanese the most infrequent on 48 and the Greeks putting in an Olympian effort on 164. It might explain why respondents from Japan were the least satisfied with their sex lives, with only 10 per cent ranking it as exciting, well behind the global average of 49 per cent, led by Nigerians on 78 per cent. Hong Kong (32 per cent), Australia (40), Singapore (41), Thailand (42) and New Zealand (43) were also among the bottom 10 nations in the exciting sex life stakes. India's lovers were the world's quickest, taking 13.2 minutes per session compared to the global average of 18.3 minutes, with the ranking again topped by Nigeria, on a leisurely 24 minutes. Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Australia were also well below the world average for time spent on sexual intercourse. However, China's lovers were the seventh most lengthy in the world on 20 minutes, a heartbeat behind Malaysia's on 19.9. Only 24 per cent of respondents from Hong Kong and China reported always experiencing an orgasm during sex, the lowest in the survey, followed by Japan on 27 per cent and Singapore on 36. On average, 59 per cent of respondents strongly agreed that sex was important to them, with the lowest rankings coming from Thailand on 38 per cent, Japan (39) and Hong Kong (48 per cent). University of Chicago researchers found that Israeli women placed the highest value on the importance of sex. And the Pfizer Global Study revealed that Israelis placed a very high value on the frequency of sex, but ranked low in terms of quality, erotica and passion. So will the rubber and plastic sex toys, China made vibrators, pink, white and purple dildos, DVD adult movies, strip shows, sexy lace lingerie, chocolate liqueur, massage heating oils and candles of Sextival have an impact on the quality of sex in Israel? The answer must be qualified yes. There was a small protest taking place outside of Hanger 11 by a few women complaining that a sex event in Israel such as Sextival would create more violence against women. I responded: "what about violence against men". They had no answer. In fact, many men are battered by women in Israel on a daily basis and never complain to the police out of embarrassment. Does openness about sex lead to violence? Research says no. It also states that domestic violence statistics show that violence is just as prevalent in gay and lesbian relationships as it is in heterosexual couples. The main coordinator behind Israel's first sex festival is not a sex therapist but rather former female model Israel Nitzan Kirshenboim, a 32-year-old mother of two and an avid consumer of sex products and shows. Kirshenboim says she got the idea for the event after visiting a sex festival in Berlin. "I'm actually a real nerd," said Kirshenboim. "I'm just the neighbor's daughter who decided to take the initiative and say, 'Guys, we all have sex, we all enjoy it. Why not get it out in the open? The idea is to get the issue of sex out in the open. It's out there in the world, it's big and beautiful and everyone does it. Why not take it out from behind closed doors, enable people to ask questions, and decrease the fear and darkness surrounding it? Erotica is an integral part of the life of an adult. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. We want to present sex to people in a way that they won't be ashamed, and they'll be able to freely check out what fits them best." Inside Hanger 11 in Tel Aviv, Israel were dozens of displays for sex toys, colorful candles, tasty hand made chocolate from the Roy company in Petach Tikva, presentations on various fetishes including eatable panties, fishnet stockings, scents, perfumes, leather clothing, water beds, Fleshlight toys for men, BDSM toys, Blazer, Playboy, Banana and Hustler Magazines. The
Israel Sex Style retail outlet, one of Sextival co-sponsors
had a half dozen tables displaying various items that could
only enhance mutual pleasure and fun. Hugh Hefner's Playboy,
as a co-sponsor was proud to be showing off two Playboy bunnies
who were overwhelmed by Israel autograph seekers. The Sextival sex festival in Israel produced an abundance of smiles and an enjoyable time for for both men and women, the young and middle-aged visitors who attended. Bottom line - who will benefit from the thousands of vibrators, oils and sex toys displayed in Hanger 11. Women. As a man can I not be jealous? In all seriousness, if Israelis had more sex, if Palestinians had more sex and if those in Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia had any procreation, the Middle-East might become a more stable, calmer and relaxing environment. Instead of sexually frustrated Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists blowing themselves up for the opportunity of meeting 72 virgins in heaven, they could actually get a chance down here on earth. Pass the Viagra and Cialis. And make sure that the Palestinian Authority and those in Gaza get their UN supply marked as "humanitarian aid." The Sextival is being held February 5-7th, at the Tel Aviv Port (Namal). Entrance is limited to those over 18 years of age with a cost of 60 NIS or about 15 dollars. Call to order tickets in advance: 03-544-8090 or place orders via the Website.
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