Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

tradition, the term saris (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

: סָרִיס, literally

eunuch A eunuch ( , ) is a male who has been castration, castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function. The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2 ...

;) is a term used to refer to an individual

assigned male at birth Sex assignment (also known as gender assignment) is the discernment of an infant's sex, typically made at birth based on an examination of the baby's external genitalia by a healthcare provider such as a midwife, nurse, or physician. In the v ...

who has done one of the following: * develop female characteristics; * fail to reach sexual maturity by 20 years old; * undergo castration. In traditional Judaism, gender plays a central role in legal obligations, such as

mitzvah In its primary meaning, the Hebrew language, Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment Divine law, from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of disc ...

. Thus, the gender identities of the

Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...

(including

androgynos In Jewish tradition, the term ''androgynos'' ( in Hebrew, transliterated: "ʾandərôg̲înôs",literally: man-woman, translation: "intersex") refers to someone who possesses both male and female sexual characteristics. Due to the ambiguous nature ...

, tumtum, and

ay'lonit In Rabbinic Judaism, an ayelonit ( "ram-like woman", ) is an individual assumed to be female at birth who later developed male secondary sex characteristics and is assumed to be infertile. The secondary-sex characteristics referred to as "male" ...

) were created to fit into their legal system. A ''saris'' who, naturally, did not undergo typical male puberty is referred to as ''saris hamah'' (Hebrew: סריס חמה ). Those affected by human intervention (whether accidental or intentional) are referred to as ''saris adam'' (Hebrew: סריס אדם). While it may have been a common practice in neighboring cultures, the Ancient

Hebrews The Hebrews (; ) were an ancient Semitic-speaking peoples, ancient Semitic-speaking people. Historians mostly consider the Hebrews as synonymous with the Israelites, with the term "Hebrew" denoting an Israelite from the nomadic era, which pre ...

did not practice castration.

References in holy texts

Examples

''And let not the saris say: “I am a withered tree” For thus says God: As for the sarises who keep My sabbaths, ..I will give them an everlasting name that shall not perish.'' — '' Isaiah 56:1-8''

Marriage

While an ''

'' can be married, the views on ''saris'' are more complicated. If they are born a ''saris hamah'', they may marry without restrictions. However, if they are a ''saris adam'', they cannot marry a Jewish woman, as there is a belief their wives may commit

adultery Adultery is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal consequences, the concept ...

as a consequence of the ''saris adam'''s

infertility In biology, infertility is the inability of a male and female organism to Sexual reproduction, reproduce. It is usually not the natural state of a healthy organism that has reached sexual maturity, so children who have not undergone puberty, whi ...

. In addition, if a ''saris adam'' was married prior to castration, they are required to divorce their wife.''(Otzar Ha-poskim 5:2)''

References

Jewish belief and doctrine Gender and Judaism Gender identity