Editing Jewish views on homosexuality (section)

===Lesbian sexual activity===
Although [[lesbian]]ism is not explicitly prohibited in the Hebrew Bible, [[Lesbian sexual practices|sexual liaisons between women]] are forbidden by Orthodox [[rabbinical literature]]. The Talmud discusses [[tribadism]] (women rubbing genitals together, or {{transliteration|he|nashim mesolelot}}) without explicitly prohibiting it; the main concern was whether or not this activity removed their status as a [[Virginity|virgin]], making them ineligible to marry a member of [[Kohanim|the priesthood]]. However, the [[Sifra]] condemned marriage between two women, considering it within the category of licentious foreign behavior which is forbidden to Jews.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Hebrew-English Bible'' {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|18:3|HE}}</ref><ref>Sifra, Acharei Mot 13:10</ref> Following this lead, later [[Halakha|halakhic]] codes prohibited tribadism on the same grounds.<ref>[[Mishneh Torah]], Issurei Biah 21:8</ref>  Maimonides recommended flagellation as a penalty for lesbian acts, rather than the death penalty.<ref>Encyclopaedia Judaica | vol 9 | second edition | pg 518 | Homosexuality</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=History of Jewish Lesbianism |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/history-of-jewish-lesbianism/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=My Jewish Learning |language=en-US}}</ref> Lesbianism was considered a less serious offense than male homosexuality for a few reasons; most notably, lesbian sexual acts were not explicitly prohibited in the Torah and rabbinic scholars did not consider tribadism "true" intercourse.<ref name=":1" /> Since there is not necessarily penetration involved in lesbian sex, the sages did not believe that lesbianism impacted a woman's virginity or marriageability, and therefore lesbian activity was regarded as only a minor offense.<ref name=":3" />