Jews and Medicine: Religion, Culture, Science

Since the MIddle Ages, Jews have regarded medicine as one of the most honorable professions to pursue. Since then, Jews have been represented in it in much greater numbers than their percentage in the population would seem to warrant. Jews and Medicine is an attempt to examine the special relationship between Jews and medicine. The book follows chronological lines tracing the most significant points of encounter between the history of the Jewish people and the history of medicine. Jews and Medicine also highlights the special interest of Jewish physicians in medical ethics. The subject of Jews and medicine has never before been dealt with in such an all-embracing manner.

Jews and Medicine is sprinkled with full-color photographs of manuscripts, posters, postcards, photographs, and sketches that trace the relationship between Jews and medicine from biblical times to the present. It includes eleven essays on such topics as "Healing in Jewish Lore and Law," "Jewish Folk Medicine," "Jewish Women in Medicine," and even an essay by Peter Gay on Sigmund Freud.