Jewish Science
Encyclopedia
Jewish Science is a Judaic
spiritual movement
comparable with the New Thought Movement. Many of its members also attend services at conventional synagogue
s.
It is an interpretation of Jewish philosophy
that was originally conceived by Rabbi
Alfred G. Moses in the early 1900s in response to the growing influence of Christian Science
and the New Thought Movement. Rather than the paternal God figure encountered in Hebrew tradition, "Jewish Science views God as an Energy or Force penetrating the reality of the universe. God is the source of all Reality and not separate from but part of the world and Right thinking has a healing effect". His fundamental teachings are found in his 1916 book Jewish Science: Divine Healing in Judaism. The movement was institutionalized in 1922 with Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein
's founding of the Society of Jewish Science.
and the New Thought
movement, and it is intended to function as a counterweight to the Christian
elements in both of these movements and strictly maintain its Jewish identity. It emphasizes the role of affirmative prayer
, "divine
healing
" and "Right thinking" as self help methods essential to a Jew's physical and spiritual health, but does not rule out the importance of medical intervention - unlike Christian Science. Jewish Science also incorporates psychology
, and concepts about practical spirituality
similar to beliefs developed in the New Thought movement. Thanks to radio broadcasts on WMCA
and the establishment of the Jewish Science Interpreter magazine
the movement attracted numerous adherents, helping its rise to prominence in the Jewish community. Today the Society's "Home Center" and synagogue is located in midtown Manhattan, NY. The Society also maintains a congregation in Los Angeles California. Also many study groups around the country which focus on each of the main texts of Jewish Science.
to be particularly useful because, he believed, it provided the personal benefits of prayer without requiring the belief in a supernatural God who could suspend the laws of nature. He considered affirmative prayer to be a method to access inner power that could be considered divine, but not supernatural. He taught that the origins of affirmative prayer can be found in the Old Testament
Book of Psalms
, and that affirmations, or affirmative prayers, are best offered in silence.
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
spiritual movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
comparable with the New Thought Movement. Many of its members also attend services at conventional synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s.
It is an interpretation of Jewish philosophy
Jewish philosophy
Jewish philosophy , includes all philosophy carried out by Jews, or, in relation to the religion of Judaism. Jewish philosophy, until modern Enlightenment and Emancipation, was pre-occupied with attempts to reconcile coherent new ideas into the tradition of Rabbinic Judaism; thus organizing...
that was originally conceived by Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Alfred G. Moses in the early 1900s in response to the growing influence of Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
and the New Thought Movement. Rather than the paternal God figure encountered in Hebrew tradition, "Jewish Science views God as an Energy or Force penetrating the reality of the universe. God is the source of all Reality and not separate from but part of the world and Right thinking has a healing effect". His fundamental teachings are found in his 1916 book Jewish Science: Divine Healing in Judaism. The movement was institutionalized in 1922 with Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein
Morris Lichtenstein
Morris Lichtenstein was the founder of the Society of Jewish Science. Born in Lithuania, he later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he was ordained by the Reform Hebrew Union College in 1916, becoming the first Eastern European student to ever study at the institution.Lichtenstein served as a Rabbi...
's founding of the Society of Jewish Science.
History
Jewish Science shares several principle beliefs with Christian ScienceChristian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
and the New Thought
New Thought
New Thought promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect.Although New Thought is neither...
movement, and it is intended to function as a counterweight to the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
elements in both of these movements and strictly maintain its Jewish identity. It emphasizes the role of affirmative prayer
Affirmative prayer
Affirmative prayer is a form of prayer or a metaphysical technique that is focused on a positive outcome rather than a negative situation. For example, a person who is experiencing some form of illness would focus the prayer on the desired state of perfect health and affirm this desired intention...
, "divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
healing
Healing
Physiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue, organs and biological system to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area....
" and "Right thinking" as self help methods essential to a Jew's physical and spiritual health, but does not rule out the importance of medical intervention - unlike Christian Science. Jewish Science also incorporates psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and concepts about practical spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
similar to beliefs developed in the New Thought movement. Thanks to radio broadcasts on WMCA
WMCA
WMCA, 570 AM, is a radio station in New York City, most known for its "Good Guys" Top 40 era in the 1960s. It is currently owned by Salem Communications and plays a Christian radio format...
and the establishment of the Jewish Science Interpreter magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
the movement attracted numerous adherents, helping its rise to prominence in the Jewish community. Today the Society's "Home Center" and synagogue is located in midtown Manhattan, NY. The Society also maintains a congregation in Los Angeles California. Also many study groups around the country which focus on each of the main texts of Jewish Science.
Affirmative prayer
Lichtenstein found affirmative prayerAffirmative prayer
Affirmative prayer is a form of prayer or a metaphysical technique that is focused on a positive outcome rather than a negative situation. For example, a person who is experiencing some form of illness would focus the prayer on the desired state of perfect health and affirm this desired intention...
to be particularly useful because, he believed, it provided the personal benefits of prayer without requiring the belief in a supernatural God who could suspend the laws of nature. He considered affirmative prayer to be a method to access inner power that could be considered divine, but not supernatural. He taught that the origins of affirmative prayer can be found in the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
Book of Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
, and that affirmations, or affirmative prayers, are best offered in silence.
See also
- Divine ScienceDivine ScienceThe Church of Divine Science is a religious movement within the wider New Thought movement. The group was founded originally in San Francisco in the 1880s under Malinda Cramer...
- List of New Thought writers
- List of New Thought denominations and independent centers
- Religious ScienceReligious ScienceReligious Science, also known as Science of Mind, was established in 1927 by Ernest Holmes and is a spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical religious movement within the New Thought movement. In general, the term "Science of Mind" applies to the teachings, while the term "Religious Science"...
- Unity ChurchUnity ChurchUnity, known informally as Unity Church, is a religious movement within the wider New Thought movement and is best known to many through its Daily Word devotional publication...
Main Text of Jewish Science
- Jewish Science and Health: The text book of Jewish Science, Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943745-00-4
- Jewish Science: Divine healing in Judaism with special reference to Jewish scripture and prayer, Rabbi Alfred G. Moses.
- Jewish Science: Psychology of health, joy and success or the applied, Rabbi Alfred G. Moses.
- Applied Judaism, Tehilla Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943745-08-X
- Peace of Mind, Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943745-01-2
- How to Live, Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943745-02-0
- The Healing of the Soul, Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943445-05-5
- Healing the Distressed, Rabbi Steven J. Kaplan. ISBN 0943745-03-9
- Judaism, Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943745-03-9
- Joy of Life, Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein. ISBN 0-943745-04-7
External links
- Society of Jewish Science
- California society of Jewish Science
- A Look Back at 'Jewish Science' - Jenna Weissman Joselit, The Forward
- Jewish Science groups explore karma, reincarnation, published January 16, 1998
- From Christian Science to Jewish Science - book, history of the movement; subscription required for full text.