fbpx

Healing: Where religion and science meet

What does Judaism have to do with healing?
[additional-authors]
November 3, 2014

What does Judaism have to do with healing?  This was the topic of the lively conference, “Healing: The Interplay of Religion and Science,” October 26 and 27, 2014 at Arizona State University.  Three local attendees were Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at American Jewish University, myself from The Lippman Center for Optimal Health and Neil Wenger, MD  Chair of the Ethics Committee at UCLA Medical Center and Director of its Center on Ethics. 

Rabbi Dorff described Judaism's emphasis on maintaining our health and the various community resources that contribute to assisting people in that endeavor.  The emphasis on addressing the whole individual, not just a symptom or an organ system, carried through the entire conference.

I discussed the similarities between alternative medicine and Judaism.  Drawing upon some of the resources Rabbi Dorff described, as well as his writings, I noted that taking a proactive approach to our health and asking questions are two commonalities.  Additionally, I showed how keeping ourselves as healthy as possible facilitates our vitality as well as easing our ability to connect to God, a particularly important topic during the High Holy Days.  It is easier to change our habits and to improve ourselves when we feel better.

Dr. Wenger's summation of research on religiosity and health was enlightening.  Scientific studies reveal that those who are more religious tend to live longer than the general population.  On the other hand, praying for the health of another, while it might benefit the person doing the praying, does not seem to improve the outcome for the ill individual. 

Throughout the two days, the importance of empathy by the health practitioner became one of the most desirable characteristics.  There was general consensus that the empathetic doctor creates the space where better healing can occur.  Amen to that.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Print Issue: Got College? | Mar 29, 2024

With the alarming rise in antisemitism across many college campuses, choosing where to apply has become more complicated for Jewish high school seniors. Some are even looking at Israel.

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.