Ira Miller, director of youth programs at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, D.C., sat down with five of his students—not to talk about sex—but to talk about talking about sex. At Washington Hebrew, ninth-graders take part in a special “sexuality retreat” (a Jewish view of love, sex and marriage) to talk, listen, ask questions and have them answered.

Have you ever wondered what other teens think about Judaism and sexuality? What a Jewish educator thinks about teaching Jewish sexual ethics? Us too! That’s why we’re reprinting the following essays—one from an educator and four from teens and young adults like you—which originally appeared recently in our sister publication Sh’ma. Read on, and then feel free to share your opinions on our discussion board.

Teaching Jewish Sexual Ethics