Health, Medicine and Judaism: Resources in our Library and Beyond

Library Print and Multimedia Resources

Judaism has tackled medical problems from biblical times to modern medical technology. This pathfinder offers resources on Jewish law (halacha) and medical ethics, as well as varying Jewish approaches to healing and an exploration of medicine and healing in traditional Jewish sources. Most of our resources are located under the call numbers R-RG and BM500-600. Jewish Lights Publishing has produced many books on the art of healing and modern medicine and integrated these ideas with Judaism. Authors such as Immanuel Jakobovitz and Fred Rosner appear frequently in this pathfinder with a more traditional approach rooted in Jewish law. This pathfinder touches upon topics such as sexual morality, drug use, AIDS, and mental health issues as well as general wellness and healing guides and women’s health issues.

Alternative Healing, Alternative Medicine and Judaism
Print Resources

• Siegel, Bernie S., Peace, Love and Healing: Body-mind Communication and the Path to Self-Healing: An Exploration, , Walker, New York, NY, 1990. Summary: An alternative approach to healing, combining Judaism and mysticism with modern self-help. LP R726.5 .S55

Multimedia Resources

• Kleiman, Nancy, A Guided Journey to Healing with the Harp, , Nancy Kleiman, Temple Israel, Boston, 2008, Summary: Soothing harp music set to a guided meditation visualizing healing one’s DNA to reach a strong, healthy and vibrant wholeness. CD MUSIC Kle

Health and Medicine in Jewish Law
Print Resources

• Abraham, A.S., The Comprehensive Guide to Medical Halacha, , Feldheim Publishers, Jerusalem, Israel, 1990. Summary: An update of an earlier work “Medical Halacha for Everyone”, this book is a large scale guide to the treatment of medicine in Jewish law. R694 .A2C6

• Bleich, David J., Judaism and Healing: Halakhic Perspectives, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1981. Summary: This book is useful in providing the perspective of Jewish law on a very wide range of issues spanning 27 chapters, including taboo topics, and using real-world examples. BM515 .B61

• Freudenthal, Gad, AIDS in Jewish Thought and Law, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1998. Summary: This work contains responses from rabbis and other interdenominational commentary regarding the AIDS virus. BM538 .H43J4

• Rosner, Fred and Tendler, Moshe, Practical Medical Halachah, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale NJ, 1997. Summary: A conservative Orthodox perspective on Jewish medical ethics, covering a wide range of topics from sexual taboos to mental illness to dentistry. R694 .R6

• Steinberg, Avraham, Jewish Medical Law: A Concise Response, Beit-Shamai Publications, Woodmere, 1989. Summary: Based on the response of Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg, chief justic of the Rabbinical District Court of Jerusalem, author of Tzitz Eliezer. Deals with medical issues including: physician & patient; medical services and the Shabbat; contraception, fertility, abortion; surgery, psychiatry, death and dying and more. R694 .S74J4 1989

• Various Authors, Medicine and Jewish Law, J. Aronson, Northvale, NJ, 1990, Summary: Proceedings of a conference on medicine and Jewish law sponsored by the Raphael Society of the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists. R694 .R53M4 1990 v.1

• Various Authors, Jewish Law in Ancient and Modern Israel: Selected Essays, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1971, Summary: Includes the essay Jewish Law and Modern Medicine by H. H. Cohn. BM520 .C66

Health and Medicine in Jewish Sources
Print Resources

• Cutter, William, Healing and the New Jewish Imagination: Spiritual and Practical Perspectives on Judaism and Health, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT., 2007 Summary: A practical perspective on using spiritual methods for healing. BM538 .H43 H43 2007

• Feldman, David M., Health and Medicine in the Jewish Tradition: L’hayyim – to life, Crossroad, New York, NY, 1986. Summary: A guide to Jewish tradition regarding various modern health issues. R694 .F4H4 1986

• Freeman, David L., and Judith Z. Abrams, editors. Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition: Writings from the Bible to Today, The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1999. Summary: A wide-ranging book from rabbis, survivors and physicians regarding Jewish values and modern medical advances. BM538 .H43I45

• Greenblatt, Robert B., Search the Scriptures: A Physician Examines Medicine in the Bible, Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA, 1963. Summary: A Physicians’ take on the flaws and remarkable prescience of medicine as told in the Bible. R135.5 .G7S4

•  Maimonides, Moses Ben, Maimonides’ Medical Writings, The Maimonides Research Institute, Haifa, Israel, 1984, Summary: The writings of Moses Maimonides regarding health and medicine in five volumes. R694 .M54 v.1-5

•  Odell, Wesley, Towards a Recovery of Prayer: A Reform Response to Healing, Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1994. 

• Summary: The senior thesis of Wesley Odell (who later changed his name to Lev Baesh) on Jewish attitudes towards healing, broken down into an analysis of practice in biblical times, Talmudic times and the attitude of modern Reform Jews.The author received rabbinic ordination in 1994. R726.5 .O3

• Press, Julius, Biblical and Talmudic Medicine, Sanhedrin, New York, NY, 1978. Summary: A scholarly examination of biblical and Talmudic attitudes towards sickness, medicine and healing. R135.5 P7413

•  Rosner, Fred, Encyclopedia of Medicine in the Bible and the Talmud, Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale CA, 2000. R135.5 .R663
   
• Rosner, Fred, Medicine in the Mishneh Torah of Maimonides, Ktav Publishing House, New York, NY, 1984. Summary: A Scholarly examination of Maimonides’ view of medicine as expressed in the Mishneh Torah. R135.5 .R675

Multimedia Resources

• Mehlman, Bernard H., The Jewish Perspective, WNEV-TV, Boston, 1995, Summary: A show in three parts: in part 1, participants discuss Project Yad, a program for the terminally ill. JPERSP COLL VIDEO BM700 v.172

• Friedman, Ronne, The Jewish Perspective. WNEV-TV, Boston, 2000, Summary: In Part 2, Dr. David L. Friedman talks about his book, Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition: Writings from the Bible to Today. JPERSP COLL VIDEO BM700 v.234

Jewish Approaches to Health Problems and Healing
Print Resources

• Berman, Robin, The Hadassah Jewish Family Book of Health and Wellness, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2006. Summary: A comprehensive guide to Jewish approaches to modern problems of health and wellness; this is a comprehensive book that covers a very wide range of medical and personal issues. BM538 .H43 B47 2006

• Cutter, William, Healing and the Jewish Imagination: Spiritual and Practical Perspectives on Judaism and Health, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT., 2007. Summary: A collection of thirteen essays regarding Jewish perspectives on healing and bioethics. BM538 .H43 H43 2007

• Jaffe, Hirshel L., Gates of Healing: A Message of Comfort and Hope, Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York, 1988. BM665 .G31

• Landman, Leo, Judaism and Drugs, Hermon Press, New York, NY, 1973, Summary: Various essays regarding the Jewish approach to drug culture and drug addiction, including methods on reaching alienated youth who turn to drugs. R694 .L23

• Lown, Bernard, The Lost Art of Healing, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA, 1996. Summary: A book examining the doctor-patient relationship and a critique of modern medical practice, explaining how doctors excessively focus on diagnosing and fixing rather than healing. R733 .L684

• Meszker, Rabbi Joseph B., Facing Illness, Finding God: How Judaism Can Help You and Caregivers Cope When Body or Spirit Fails, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 2010. Summary: A personal book designed to help readers focus on ‘spiritual well-being as an essential aspect of physical healing and wholeness’ (from the book jacket) for the ill and caregivers alike. This book combines real life experiences with traditional Jewish sources to comfort the ill and those caring for them. BM538 .H43M4

• Moyers, Bill D., Healing and the Mind, Doubleday, New York, NY, 1993. R726.5 M69

• Person, Hara, The Mitzvah of Healing: An Anthology of Essays, Jewish Texts, Personal Stories, Meditations and Rituals, UAHC Press and Women of Reform Judaism, New York, NY, 2003. Summary: A Reform perspective on using traditional Jewish texts as well as modern meditation for healing, including personal stories. BM538 .H43M5

• Various Authors, A Time to Prepare: A Practical Guide for Individuals and Families in Determining a Jewish approach to making personal arrangements, establishing the limits of medical care and embracing rituals at the end of life, , UAHC Press, New York, NY, 2002. R726. A3 2002

Jews in Medicine and Health Practice
Print Resources

• Berger, Natalia, Jews and Medicine: Religion, Culture, Science, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1997. R135.5 .J49

• Block, Irvin, Neighbor to the World: The Story of Lillian Wald, Crowell, New York, 1969, Summary: A biography of the nurse whose many campaigns, including her reestablishment of the settlement house on Henry Street in New York, introduced the concept of public health nursing to America. BIOG WALD

• Freeman, David, An Act of Worship: Moses Maimonides on Excellence in the Practice of Medicine, JIMA, 1999. Summary: A study of Maimonides’ thoughts on medicine and its linkage to religious practice. VERT FILE FREEMAN

• Heynick, Frank, Jews and Medicine: An Epic Saga, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 2002. Summary: An exhaustive history of Jewish participation in healing and medical practice, from the court Jews of medieval times to the modern day doctors. R694 .H4

• Rosner, Fred, The Medical Aphorisms of Moses Maimonides, Bloch Publishing, New York, 1970. BM545 .M54 v.1

• Rosner, Fred, The Medical Encyclopedia of Moses Maimonides, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale, CA, 1998. R135 .R66

• Siegel, Beatrice, Lillian Wald of Henry Street, Macmillan, New York, 1983, Summary: A biography of an urban pioneer who evolved new concepts of public health, led the movement for peace, and pressed governments to assume responsibility for the economic well-being of its citizens. BIOG WALD

• Siegel, Rachel and Cole, Ellen, Jewish Women in Therapy: Seen but not Heard, Harrington Park Press, New York, NY, 1991. Summary: A survey of Jewish woman therapists and patients who examine the cultural effects of Jewishness in therapy, treatment and their personal lives and passions. RC451.5 .J4J49

Judaism and Medical Ethics
Print Resources

• Dorff, Elliot N., Matters of Life and Death, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1998. Summary: A Jewish professor approaches moral and sexual issues as well as end of life care in Jewish law and tradition. R694 .D6

• Jakobovits, Immanuel, Jewish Medical Ethics: A Comparative and Historical Study of the Jewish Religious Attitude to Medicine and its Practice, Bloch Publishing Company, New York, NY, 1975. Summary: An academic, historical approach to the study of Jewish medical treatment, focusing on traditional and medieval practices. R694 .J21

• Meier, Levi, Jewish Values in Health and Medicine, University Press of America, Lanham, 1990. Summary: A survey of Jewish responses and tradition regarding modern medical dilemmas. R725.57 J493 1990

• Rosner, Fred, Modern Medicine and Jewish Ethics, Ktav Publishing, Hoboken, N.J., 1986. Summary: A traditionalist view of the effects of Jewish traditions on modern medicine. R724 .R624

Multimedia Resources

• Mehlman, Rabbi Bernard, Chapin, David and Levin, Susan, Medical Ethics Symposium: The Beginning of Life – Ethical Dilemmas for Families and Physicians, Temple Israel, Boston, 1991. Summary: Topics: Ethical Dilemmas from a physician’s perspective, the conflicts families present to clinicians and a reform rabbi’s response to Jewish/medical/ethical issues surrounding the beginning of life. AUDIO ARCHIVE R724 1991

• Mehlman, Bernard H. and Terry Bard, Medical Ethics Symposium, Temple Israel, Boston, 1993. Summary: Health Care Rationing?: Presented by Rabbi Bernard Melman and Rabbi Terry Bard at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston in two volumes. AUDIO ARCHIVE R724 1993 v.1-2

• Various Participants, Medical Ethics Symposium: The Right to Die, Temple Israel, Boston, 1990. Summary: Part I Side A: What Judaism teaches us about decisions near the end of life; Rabbis Bernard Mehlman and Ronne Freidman. Side B: Forum: A time to die – how do we decide? Panel with Dr. Lowell Schnipper, Chief of Oncology, Beth Israel Boston, Alex Moschella, Esq., Board Member of Law Medicine Inc., Naomi Stearns, LICSW, Dir. Of Social work at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. AUDIO ARCHIVE R724 1990 v.1-2

Mental Health Resources
Print Resources

• Address, Richard F, Caring for the Soul: R’fuat hanefesh: a Mental Health Resource and Study Guide, UAHC Press, New York, NY, 2003. Summary: Caring for the Soul: R’fuat hanefesh was created as a response to the need to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma within congregations regarding individuals and families who are dealing with mental health issues. RC541 .C3

• Clark, David C., Clergy Response to Suicidal Persons and their Family Members: An Interfaith Resource book for Clergy and Congregations, Exploration Press, Chicago, Ill., 1993. BV4330 .C54

• Siegel, Rachel and Cole, Ellen, Jewish Women in Therapy: Seen but not Heard, Harrington Park Press, New York, NY, 1991. Summary: A survey of Jewish woman therapists and patients who examine the cultural effects of Jewishness in therapy, treatment and their personal lives and passions. RC451.5 .J4J49

• Wechsler, James, In a Darkness, Norton, New York, 1972. Summary: A memoir about a man facing a severe mental illness and his eventual suicide. f. Wec

Women’s Health Resources
Print Resources

• Butler, Sandra, Cancer in Two Voices, Spinsters Book Co., San Francisco, CA, 1991. Summary: From book jacket: ‘This collaboration began when Barbara Rosenblum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Using essays, journal entries and letters, Sandy and Barbara share the experience of living with cancer and being the partner who survives. Cancer in Two Voices is a subversive book in the best sense of the word – it provokes you to be engaged with all of your life’s choices: goals and values, work and friendship, lovers and family. It will nourish and sustain you, leaving you with fewer certainties but more compassion and generosity.’ RC280 .B8B85

• Cardin, Rabbi Nina Beth, Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 1999. BM667 .W6T4

• Falk, Sandy and Judson, Rabbi Daniel, The Jewish Pregnancy Book: A Resource for the Soul, Body and Mind during Pregnancy, Birth and the First Three Months, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT., 2004. RG525 .F34 2004

• Frymer-Kensky, Tikva, Motherprayer: The Pregnant Woman’s Spiritual Companion, Riverhead Books, New York, NY, 1995. Summary: A book of prayers and history that covers Jewish tradition regarding motherhood and pregnancy. BM667 .W6F78.

• Temple Israel/Beth Israel Hospital Panel, Women Helping Women: a Women’s Health Program, Temple Israel, Boston, 1992. Summary: A women’s health group discussing various issues with patients at the Beth Israel Hospital. VISUAL ARCHIVE R694

Web Resources

• Breslev.co.il, Medicine in Judaism Articles http://www.breslev.co.il/categories/family/health_and_fitness/medicine_in_judaism.aspx?category=211&chapter=180&pageid=1&language=english, Summary: A traditional Hasidic Jewish approach to medicine and wellness 

• Hebrew Union College Kalsman Institute, http://huc.edu/kalsman/, HUC’s organization dedicated to dialogue between rabbis and health care professionals. 

• JPsych, Judaism and Mental Health, http://www.jpsych.com/, Summary: A premier site on research regarding Judaism and mental health; it is frequently updated and contains advanced research.

• Judaism, Science and Medicine Group, Arizona State University Jewish Studies Program, http://jewishstudies.clas.asu.edu/science, Summary: This is an international group of physicians, rabbis and scholars who debate together over Jewish values and medicine. The group publishes articles and anyone can join.

• My Jewish Learning, Jews and Mental Illness, http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ethics/Our_Bodies/Themes_and_Theology/Mental_Illness.shtml, Summary: Section on non-denominational My Jewish Learning about mental illness

• National Association of Judaism and Medicine, http://www.nijm.org/, Summary: A Chabad-funded group bringing together Judaism and modern health and medical professionals through annual conferences

• Nefesh, http://www.nefesh.org/, Summary: An association of Orthodox Jewish mental health professionals

• Nishmat, http://www.jewishwomenshealth.org/, Summary: An Orthodox organization discussing women’s health

• URJ: Health and Wellness, http://urj.org/life/health/, Summary: The official URJ website pertaining to health and wellness; it includes many health and wellness resources and women’s and mental health and addiction sections at http://urj.org/life/health/mentalhealth/

• Pathfinder by Library Intern Jonathan Cohen, March, 2010.

For more information about any of these resources, please contact Ann Abrams, Librarian, aabrams@tisrael.org.