Jewish Science
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Jewish Science is a Judaic spiritual movement comparable with the New Thought Movement. Many of its members also attend services at conventional synagogues.[1]
It is an interpretation of Jewish philosophy that was originally conceived by Rabbi Alfred Geiger 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 a real part of our world."[1] 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.[2]
History[edit]
Jewish Science shares several principle beliefs with Christian 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 was founded by Alfred G. Moses, Morris Lichtenstein and Tehilla Lichtenstein in 1916. 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,[1] 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, thereby helping its rise to prominence in the Jewish community. The Society's "Home Center" and synagogue is located in midtown Manhattan, NY.[citation needed] The Society also maintains a congregation in Los Angeles California and many study groups around the country which focus on each of the main texts of Jewish Science.[1]
Affirmative prayer[edit]
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Lichtenstein found affirmative prayer 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.[2] 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 Hebrew Bible's Book of Psalms, and that affirmations, or affirmative prayers, are best offered in silence.[2]
See also[edit]
- Divine Science
- List of New Thought writers
- List of New Thought denominations and independent centers
- Religious Science
- Unity Church
Citations[edit]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Horowitz, Sarah (16 January 1998). "Jewish Science groups explore karma, reincarnation". Jewish Bulletin of Northern California. San Francisco Jewish Community Publications.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Umansky 2005, p. 104.
References[edit]
Primary sources[edit]
- Moses, Alfred G. (1916). Jewish Science: Divine healing in Judaism. Author.
- Moses, Alfred G. (1920). Jewish Science: Psychology of Health, Joy and Success: Or, The Applied Psychology of Judaism. Searcy & Pfaff.
- Lichtenstein, Morris (1925). Jewish Science and Health: Text book of Jewish Science. Jewish Science Publishing Company. ISBN 0-943745-00-4.
- Lichtenstein, Morris (1927). Peace of Mind: Jewish Science Essays. Jewish Science Publishing Company. ISBN 0-943745-01-2.
- Lichtenstein, Morris (1934). Judaism: A presentation of its essence and a suggestion for its preservation. Jewish Science Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-943745-03-9.
- Lichtenstein, Morris (1938). Joy of Life: Jewish Science Essays. Jewish Science Publishing Company. ISBN 0-943745-04-7.
- Lichtenstein, Morris (1957). How to Live. New York: Society of Jewish Science. ISBN 978-0-943745-02-2.
- Lichtenstein, Morris (1974). The Healing of the Soul. Society of Jewish Science. ISBN 978-0-943745-05-3.
- Lichtenstein, Tehilla; Friedman, Doris (1989). Applied Judaism: Selected Jewish Science Essays. Society of Jewish Science. ISBN 978-0-943745-08-4.
- Lichtenstein, Morris; Kaplan, Steven J. (1998). Healing the Distressed: A Jewish Approach. Society of Jewish Science. ISBN 978-0-943745-13-8.
Secondary sources[edit]
- Umansky, Ellen M. (2005). From Christian Science to Jewish Science: Spiritual Healing and American Jews. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/0195044002.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-504400-3.
Further reading[edit]
- Joselit, Jenna Weissman (4 February 2005). "Prayer Fare: A Look Back at 'Jewish Science'". The Forward. ISSN 1051-340X. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
