Vayishlah 5772: Busy Goats!

Rashi has a very interesting comment on a verse that, at first blush, seems to be quite ordinary. In describing the peace offering that Jacob plans on giving to his brother, Esau, the Torah lists "two hundred she goats and twenty male goats; female sheep two hundred and rams twenty...forty cows and ten bulls; twenty she-asses and ten male asses." (see verse 32:15)

Notice that the male-female ratio is different for some of the animals.  The reason is that some animals have more sexual freedom than others.  Goats and sheep, which are never used as beasts of burden, have nothing to do all day but eat, sleep, and have sex. Therefore, one goat can mate with ten females.  Cows however, will not mate once they get pregnant, and the bulls are used for agricultural work, so they are not as available as the goats and sheep.  As a result, their ratio is lower - one bull for every four cows.  Donkeys are used to travel long distances, so they are often not around for mating.  Consequently, their male-female ratio is one for every two.

Now comes the kicker:  Rashi says that the Sages used the same principle to determine the minimum sexual obligations that men have to their wives. In Judaism, men are obligated to have sex with their wives; it's not like other religions in which the woman must submit to the man's desires whenever he wants.  The minimum required frequency of a couple's sexual relations depends on the man's profession.  Men who have lots of time on their hands are required to have sex every day (assuming she's interested.)  Workers who engage in hard labor have a mandated ration of twice a week. Donkey drivers must have sex with their wives once a week because of the distances they travel. Camel drivers go even farther, so their ratio is once a month.  Sailors go to far off lands, so their required frequency is once every six months.  A Torah scholar is required to put down his books and have sex once a week.

I am surprised that the tradition would tie the frequency of human sexual relations to that of animals.  Aren't we supposed to strive to make our sexual lives sacred and not bestial?  As they say in the study of Torah, the matter is צריך עיון - it requires further study.