Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition : Writings from the Bible of Today

by Freeman, David L.; Abrams, Judith Z.

• ISBN13: 9780827606739
• ISBN10: 0827606737
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

An anthology of traditional and modern Jewihs writing on illness and healing from the Bible to modern day.

Author Biography

David Freeman, M.D. is a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine and rheumatology and an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, Ph.D. is the Director of Maqom, a school for adult Talmud study

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xv
Acknowledgments	p. xix
General Introduction: Judaism and Healing	p. xxi
To Cope, to Endure, to Sustain, to Transcend	p. 1
Introduction	p. 2
David's Recovery--Bible	p. 3
Empathy--Bible	p. 3
Study Torah--Talmud	p. 4
Piety and Faith--Gluckel of Hameln	p. 4
The Remedy of Trusting God	p. 9
Strengths in the Soul	p. 10
Sustaining Work	p. 11
And Yet	p. 12
Praying Together	p. 13
Love, Work, and Compassion	p. 23
The Will to Live	p. 36
Learning and Helping	p. 43
Choosing	p. 48
Seeking Meaning in Suffering	p. 55
Introduction	p. 56
Following God's Intentions--Bible	p. 57
Sarah Is Rewarded--Bible	p. 59
God Makes Israel Sick and Then Well Again--Bible	p. 60
Elisha Revives a Child--Bible	p. 60
We Suffer for Others--Bible	p. 62
God, This Is More Than I Can Bear--Bible	p. 64
Is It Fair?--Bible	p. 66
Suffering and Compassion--Talmud	p. 69
Was It from Sin?--Talmud	p. 70
The Reward in the Hereafter--Midrash	p. 70
Reviewing Life--Zohar	p. 71
Illness and Guilt	p. 73
Reaching Out for Healing	p. 79
The Empowering Force	p. 81
God Is in Caring	p. 82
To Meet the Test	p. 84
Act of Sacrifice	p. 87
That I May Do Great Things	p. 90
The Meaning of Transcendence	p. 91
From Where Will My Help Come?	p. 95
Introduction	p. 96
O God, Pray Heal Her--Bible	p. 97
Bless the Lord, O My Soul--Bible	p. 98
The Lord Is My Shepherd--Bible	p. 100
O Lord, Do Not Punish Me--Bible	p. 101
Mi Shebeirakh: May the One Who Blessed--Prayer Book	p. 102
You Saved My Life--Bible	p. 102
Hannah's Prayer--Bible	p. 104
My Soul Meditates	p. 105
To Give Thanks--Talmud	p. 107
Amulets--Talmud	p. 107
Prayer for the Sick--Prayer Book	p. 108
Thou Givest All, Taking Nought	p. 108
King David's Prayer--Zohar	p. 109
Confession by the Gravely Ill--Vidui	p. 110
Give Countenance to Caregivers--Prayer	p. 110
Two Blessings for Healing	p. 111
A Mother's Prayer	p. 112
The Etrog	p. 113
Prayer for Those Having Difficulty Conceiving	p. 114
Prayer after a Miscarriage or Stillbirth	p. 115
Prayer after Safe Delivery	p. 115
Mikvah Ceremony for Laura	p. 116
A Fertility Ritual	p. 118
After a Miscarriage	p. 122
To Relax Spiritually	p. 124
The Jewish Healer	p. 127
Introduction	p. 128
Wellness and Holiness in the Bible	p. 129
The Comfort of Music--Bible	p. 133
Asa's Transgression--Bible	p. 134
Honor the Physician	p. 134
Herbs, Baths, and Devils--Josephus	p. 135
Solomon's Wisdom--Josephus	p. 137
No Healing in Shrines--Talmud	p. 138
Incantations to Heal the Sick	p. 139
Permission to Physician to Heal--Talmud and Midrash	p. 142
Physician's Oath--Asaph	p. 143
The Good Physician	p. 146
Rambam the Physician--Maimonides	p. 147
King Francis and the Converso Physician--Story	p. 149
The Art of Healing	p. 151
Physician's Oath	p. 158
Prayer of Maimonides	p. 159
Laws of the Physician	p. 161
Satires on Physicians	p. 162
The Jewish Hospice	p. 162
Principles of Administration of the Hospital	p. 165
Studies of Jewish Physicians in the Warsaw Ghetto	p. 166
The Sacredness of Human Life	p. 169
The Caring Sage	p. 175
Introduction	p. 176
Solomon Overcomes the Devils--Testament of Solomon	p. 177
What's in a Name?--Talmud	p. 177
Rabbinic Remedies--Talmud	p. 178
Samuel the Healer-Sage--Talmud	p. 179
Hasidic Home Treatments	p. 179
Adding a Name	p. 180
Simhah and Healing--Rebbe Nachman of Breslov	p. 180
Rabbi Sofer Visits the Sick	p. 182
An Authentic Encounter	p. 183
Is the Rabbi a Psychotherapist?	p. 187
A Memoir of a Hospital Visit	p. 191
How to Pray in the Hospital	p. 199
Acceptance	p. 202
A Holy Thing	p. 202
Death at Its Turning	p. 203
Rules and Ethics	p. 207
Introduction	p. 208
Illness and Shabbat--Talmud	p. 209
One Can't Heal Oneself--Talmud and Midrash	p. 210
Visiting, Healing, and Love--Midrash	p. 211
Our Obligation to Visit the Sick--Talmud	p. 212
Without Measure--Talmud	p. 214
Rules of Visiting the Sick--Maimonides	p. 214
Laws of Visiting the Sick	p. 215
Learning to Cheer the Sick	p. 216
The Last Moments	p. 218
Suicide	p. 219
Faith Healing in Jewish Law	p. 219
Filial Responsibility	p. 223
The Healer's Fees--Talmud	p. 228
The Jewish Patient	p. 229
The Patient as a Person	p. 231
The Doctor in the Patient	p. 243
The Sacredness of Health	p. 247
Introduction	p. 248
Laws of Purity--Bible	p. 249
Wise Sayings--Bible	p. 253
In Its Time--Bible	p. 254
The Image of God--Talmud	p. 255
The Merit of Good Health	p. 255
Temperance and Health--Philo	p. 256
Warding Off Spirits--Talmud	p. 257
Morning Bread--Talmud	p. 258
The Sacredness of Health--Maimonides	p. 259
Preserving Health--Maimonides	p. 260
The Regimen of Health: Body, Emotions, and Spirit--Maimonides	p. 263
The Importance of Medicine to Man--Maimonides	p. 267
Rules Concerning Physical Well-Being	p. 267
Fatherly Advice	p. 268
Chicken Soup	p. 269
Visualization	p. 271
Emotional Wellness	p. 272
Addenda	p. 275
Additional Reading	p. 276
Historical Background	p. 281
Notes and Credits	p. 285
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.