We have learnt that it is forbidden to a man to gaze at the beauty of a woman1v. T. B. Berachoth, 24a et passim. lest evil thoughts should be provoked in him and he should be incited to something worse.’ When R. Simeon went through the town, followed by the Companions, if he saw a beautiful woman he used to lower his eyes and say-to the Companions, Do not turn.
Whoever gazes at the beauty of a woman by day will have lustful thoughts at night, and if these gain the better of him he will transgress the precept, “Ye shall not make to yourselves molten gods”. And if he has intercourse with his wife while under the influence of those imaginings, the children born from such union are called “molten gods”. R. Abba said: ‘It is forbidden to a man to fix his gaze upon heathen idols and upon Gentile women, or to receive benefit or healing from them.’
וְתָנֵינָן, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בִּשְׁפִּירוּ דְּאִנְתְּתָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יֵיתֵי בְּהִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא, וְיִתְעַקָּר לְמִלָּה אָחֳרָא. וְכַךְ הֲוָה רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן עָבִיד, כַּד הֲוָה אָזִיל בְּמָתָא, וַהֲווּ חַבְרַיָּיא אַזְלִין אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, וְחָמָא לְאִינְתּוּ שְׁפִּירָאן, מָאִיךְ עֵינֵיהּ, וַהֲוָה אָמַר לְחַבְרַיָּיא אַל תִּפְנוּ.
We have learnt that it is forbidden to a man to gaze at the beauty of a woman1v. T. B. Berachoth, 24a et passim. lest evil thoughts should be provoked in him and he should be incited to something worse.’ When R. Simeon went through the town, followed by the Companions, if he saw a beautiful woman he used to lower his eyes and say-to the Companions, Do not turn.
וְכָל מַאן דְּיִסְתָּכַּל בִּשְׁפִּירוּ דְּאִנְתְּתָא בִּימָמָא, אָתֵי לְהַרְהוּרֵי בְּלֵילְיָא. וְאִי סָלִיק הַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא עִלָּוִיהּ, אַעְבָּר מִשּׁוּם וִאלהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם. תּוּ, אִי שִׁמֵּשׁ בְּאִנְתְּתֵיהּ בְּזִמְנָא דְּסָלִיק בֵּיהּ הַהוּא הִרְהוּרָא בִּישָׁא, אִינּוּן בְּנִין דְּאוֹלִידוּ אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה אִקְרוּן. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, (ויקרא י״ט:ד׳) אַל תִּפְנוּ אֶל הָאֱלִילִים וִאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם. רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֶּאֱלִילֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וּבְנָשֵׁי דְּעַמִּין, וְלָא לְאִתְהַנְיָיא מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְלָא לְאִתְרַפְּאָה בְּהוּ, דְּאָסִיר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בַּאֲתַר דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ.
Whoever gazes at the beauty of a woman by day will have lustful thoughts at night, and if these gain the better of him he will transgress the precept, “Ye shall not make to yourselves molten gods”. And if he has intercourse with his wife while under the influence of those imaginings, the children born from such union are called “molten gods”. R. Abba said: ‘It is forbidden to a man to fix his gaze upon heathen idols and upon Gentile women, or to receive benefit or healing from them.’