Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Jewish medicine
(767 words)

1. Definition

The term Jewish medicine is ambiguous and can be defined differently, depending on one’s perspective. It can mean the guidelines governing medical practice laid down in Jewish religious law, the Halakhah (Judaic law). In a broader sense, Jewish medicine can be understood as any form of medicine practiced by Jewish healers based on their experiences and customs influenced by religious ideas. In this context, the term was already used in a pejorative sense at t…

Cite this page
Jankrift, Kay Peter, “Jewish medicine”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 02 October 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_021713>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190124



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