Don’t be deceived by the common misconception that health and wellness are purely physical, something you have or lack.
Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization most often associated with cutting-edge medical research and education, has published a book that focuses on wellness, to remind us that the health of the soul and Jewish spirit trump mere physical health.
According to the great Jewish sages, we are not just bodies, nor are we bodies with a soul. Instead, each person is a soul that happens to live in a body. From that perspective, pursuing health and wellness becomes not only desirable but a “profound responsibility,” according to Hadassah’s new book.
The editors of “The Hadassah Jewish Family Book of Health and Wellness” have compiled an impressive tome of health-related articles specifically relevant to the Jewish heart, mind, body and soul. While not intended as a source for medical diagnoses, this book can still answer questions, inspire thought and encourage further research into topical issues.
While the scope and intent of this compilation are noteworthy, its execution sometimes falls short of expectations.
Many chapters have been gathered from previously published articles and texts. Different authorities in the relevant fields of medicine and/or Jewish education address each subject, with a few “Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul”-type stories thrown into the mix. The variety can be both a blessing and a curse: Diverse sources, writing styles and topics produce an eclectic collection of commentaries that lacks cohesion and coverage.
The book addresses specifically Jewish concerns such as Jewish genetic diseases, mitzvahs (bikur cholim, or visiting the sick), (nutrition and exercise), as well as general health controversial issues (organ donation and infertility).
The chapter on genetic diseases, which includes Tay-Sachs, Niemann-Pick and Gaucher provides current information on the diseases, testing, and the ethical implications of such testing. Rabbis and laypeople discuss why we should visit the sick (the reasons why it’s a mitzvah), how we should do it most compassionately, and what we should and shouldn’t say.
Hadassah and the UAHC Committee on Bio-Ethics claim that all branches of Judaism “support and encourage” organ donation. However, popular belief still holds that the wholeness of the body is sacred, especially in death.
Many topics are examined through the lens of halachah (Jewish law), with the caveat that each unique situation requires specific advice from your rabbi. In other words, any advice the book gives is merely suggestion and not binding. That’s a good thing, because while the collection as a whole represents the broad spectrum of Jewish teachings, thoughts and observances, individual topics are sometimes addressed from only one perspective.
Of the 83 chapters, about half of them contain sidebars with additional relevant information. Relatively few include their own resource lists. The compendium also lacks resources for further study or exploration of the topics, unless the article has already included them.
This book focuses on guiding people to participate actively in their own care and recovery through Jewish connections, both practical and spiritual. The essays are engaging, interesting and informative, but not always useful.
Overall, it is a good starting point for exploring various topics on Jewish health and healing. The key to appreciating the book is to understand what it is (an easy to read, quick reference of Jewish perspectives on various health issues) and what it isn’t (a medical advice resource or halachic authority). Equally important is to remember its focus on refuah shleimah — a complete healing — of body and soul.
“The Hadassah Jewish Family Book of Health and Wellness” edited by Dr. Robin E. Berman, Arthur Kurzweil and Dale L. Mintz (528 pages, Jossey-Bass, $34.95).