Netiv haprišut. Sexualita a askeze v judaismu Kamila Špinarová Abstract Diploma thesis "Netiv haprishut. Sexuality and Asceticism in Judaism" deals with the "Path of Restraint" written by rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the MaHaRaL of Prague. The Path of Restraint is sixteenth chapter of Maharal's philosophical and ethical tractate "Netivot olam". The treatise brings in Maharal's recommendations regarding human acts in intimate sphere of life. The submitted work deals with selected texts from the Path of Restraint, especially with the prohibition of men's autoeroticism. The thesis provides coherent view on Maharal's writings and on the meaning of the term "prishut" within the framework of Maharal's writings. The author of this thesis believes, that the term "prishut" has an essential meaning for Maharal's universe. The true "restraint" has the power to emancipate the man from the destructive influence of the matter and to unify the sphere of the matter with the sphere of divinity. The author then focuses on the passage from the Sefer Zohar (1:18a). Maharal cites the passage three times in his entire work - in the Path of Restraint, in Hiddushei Aggadot and in Be'er ha-Golah. The aforementioned text of the Zohar describes the emanation of the divine creative potency through sefiroth. Latter on Maharal...