Parshas Achrei Mos and Kedoshim (this week and last week’s Parsha) enumerate the entire list of Arayos. I counted 4 times the word: תּוֹעֵבוֹת “abominations” in the last few Pesukim of Parshas Achrei Mos. In Parshas Kedoshim we have the word: זִמָּה (depraved) twice. Then we have: כ יז חֶסֶד הוּא which means disgrace. (Rashi). Then we have: וְלֹא תָּקִיא הָּאָּרֶץ אֶתְכֶם יח כח, כ כב (the land will vomit you) several times. Then we have the word: תֶּבֶל יח כג (perversion). And the word: עֶ רְ וָּ ה which means “shame” is all over the place. The very name Arayos means shame, like it says: כִי עֶרְ וַת הָּאָּרֶץ בָּאתֶם לִרְ אוֹת מקץ מב יב you have come to discover the vulnerable (lit. exposed) part of the country (Rashi) and – embarrassing and disclosing the privacy of others – no respect! – is a severe form of mental and physical cruelty.
וּשְמַרְ תֶּם אַתֶּם אֶת חֻקֹתַי וְאֶת מִשְפָּטַי וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ מִכֹל הַּתּוֹעֵבֹת הָּאֵלֶה הָּאֶזְרָּח וְהַגֵר הַגָּר בְתוֹכֲכֶם...
There is good reason why the Torah is constantly describing Arayos in a negative way. Otherwise, it can actually be appealing, Rachmana Litzlan. One of the Gedolei Yisroel said: “They call it “love”, and we call it “Kares”; i.e., you’re being cut off and lost forever if you get involved! One of the Eitzos that Chazal give is by realizing the stench of this Sugya.
I know stories of R’ Avigdor Miller Zatzal how he gave Eitzos to people who had Nisyonos in these areas by realizing the ugliness and animalistic nature of Arayos. It is interesting that Shlomo HaMelech in Mishlei describes people involved in Arayos as having no Sechel. And he is: מַ דְ גִ יש (stresses) the greatness and sweetness of learning Torah, which is the official antidote that saves you from the Yetzer Hara of Arayos. (Gemara)
