Historic Friedenwald Three -Volume Works
on 'Jews and Medicine' Republished by Ktav
Dr. Harry Friedenwald was not
only a member of a family of
noted ophthalmologists and uni-
versity teachers: he was a distin-
guished Jewish community leader
in Maryland, an inspiration to re-
ligious movements in Baltimore
and the second president
of the Zionist Federation of Amer
DR. HARRY FRIEDENWALD
ica. He was a scholar of note and
his three volumes on "The Jews
and Medicine" are to this day the
most authoritative works on the
subject.
The late Dr. Friedenwald first
became interested in the subject of
Jewish physicians and Jewish con-
tributions to medical science in
the latter part of the last century.
His father, Dr. Aaron Friedenwald,
had delivered a lecture on "Jews
and Medicine" at Graetz College
in Philadelphia in 1896.
Dr. Harry Friedenwald's books
on the subject first were published
by Johns Hopkins University Press
in 1944. They have just been re-
issued by Ktav Publishing House
(120 E. B'way, NY2), and a fascin-
ating subject gains renewed at-
tention in the scholarly research of
a noted ophthalmogist.
The new editions of Dr. Fried-
enwald's works have the merit
of an introduction by Goerge
Rosen, professor of health and
education at Columbia University
school. of public health, former
editor of the Journal of the
History of Medicine and now ed-
itor of Journal of Public Health.
Dr. Rosen, author of a number
of books on medical subjects and
recipient of many professional
honors, reviews the life of Dr.
Friedenwald and states that
"Harry Friendenwald's work is
the eloquent testimony of a man
who was able to combine har-
moniously his professional de-
votion, his scholarly interests
and his Jewish heritage."
Dr. Rosen makes this additional
comment after reviewing the back-
ground of historical reviews of
Jewish activities in the medical
science:
"The Jewish element in medi-
his research into ancient spheres.!
In his work he gathered data about '
modern writers who dealt with the
subject of Jews and medicine. His
lengthly bibliography of "Hebrew
medicine" and the role of Jews
in the medical science is sub-
divided under many topics, in-
cluding religion and ethics in the
practice of medi-
cine, medicine in
the Talmud, neu-
rology and psychi-
atry, anatomy
a n d physiology
surgery, circum.
cision, postmor-
tem examinations
among Jews, ob-
stetrics and gyne-
cology, ophthal-
mology,derma-
tology, dentistry,
etc., in the group
dealing with die-
tetics he lists a
noteworthy work
by a late Detroit
Physician. He in-
cludes in that
group "Jewish Di- Dr. Aronstam
etary Laws From a Scientific
Viewpoint" by Dr. Noah E. Aron-
stam. It was published in New
York in 1912.
While Dr. Friedenwald's works
deal with physicians and medi-
cine, there are many essays in
his collected works of a most
fascinating literary nature de-
scribing historic incidents. There
is, for instance, his essay "Some
Jewish Interests of a Marrano
Physician" and it describes the
life and concerns of Dr. Amatus
Lusitanus of the 16th century.
He reviews a medieval Hebrew
satire, En Maimon Galipaa's
"The Physician's Aphorisms,"
believed to be a 13th century
satire.
Dr. Fri( denwald's interests were
varied an I they included every-
thing of value in Jewish scholar-
ship. That is why his having start-
ed his work with an essay on
"Jewish Book Lovers" is not a
surprise.
And it was natural that he
should deal at some length with
"The Ethics of the Practice of
Medicine From the Jewish Point
of View."
He had a good sense of humor,
as indicated in his essay "Wit and
Satire About the Physician in He-
brew Literature" which is replete
with many maxims and quotes
from many Hebrew poems written
primarily in the Spanish period.
Maimonides as physician, use
of Hebrew in medical literature,
Jewish "doctoresses" in the Mid-
dle Ages, "Evidences of Toler-
ance in 16th Century Italy,"
"The Diploma of a Jewish Grad-
of Medicine of the Uni-
uate
versity of Padua in 1695"—these
are among the subjects covered
by Dr. Friedenwald. Then there
are, in the first two of the three
published volumes, biographical
sketches of noted physicians of
medieval times and notes on
medical works of 19th century
physicians.
cine has been present since antiq-
uity and has made itself felt in
various ways in medical history.
There are chapters of note that
During the medieval period, for Jewish hospitals, on "diseases of
example, Jews were particularly the Jews." ophthamological notes
active as translators of medical of Jewish interest and an essay
literature. The. Hebrew language of major interest entitled "A He-
was frequently used by these trans- brew Reference to the Epidemic of
lators as well as by other Jewish the Gallic Disease at the End of
physicians as the vehicle for their
own observations and experiences. Dedicate Sports Center
Every student of this subject is
WALTHANI, Mass. — Sports fig-
of course indebted to Moritz Stein- ures and government and commu-
schneider through whose prodig-
nity leaders are expected to attend
the dedication of Brandeis Univer-
sity's Joseph M. Linsey Sports
eminent predecessor. Nevertheless, Center on Sunday.
The $750,000 sports cent e r,
in his two essays on the import- underwritten by Boston business
ance of the Hebrew language in
leader
and sports enthusiast
medieval medicine, and on its role
in medical literature up to the Joseph M. Linsey and his friends
present he made an interesting and business associates, will make
and useful contribution to this possible Brandeis' entrance into
aspect of his subject. To these intercollegiate swimming competi-
one may add his comprehensive tion by adding an olympic-size
bibliography of ancient Hebrew swimming pool to the university's
medicine: an indispensable tool for athletic facilities.
ious efforts a large part of this
literature is known. Harry Fried-
enwald was fully aware of his
historians and other scholars."
Dr. Friedenwald did not limit
Classified Ads Get Quick Results
the 15th Century and the Accusa-
tion that Marranos Caused Its
Spread."
There is a chronicled list of
Jewish physicians in Italy and their
relations there to the Papal and
Italian States; and physicians in
Spain and in Portugal.
The third volume of the works
of Dr. Harry Friedenwald re-
published by Ktav contains the
eminent physician's address,
"Jewish Luminaries in Medical
History" delivered at Johns
Hopkins University, Feb. 10,
1943, and a "Catalogue of works
bearing on the subject of Jews
and medicine from the private
library of Harry Friedenwald."
The latter is in itself impres- '
sive, and the text of the address
is vast proof of the deep study
the famous ophthamologist had
made during his lifetime, con-
tinuing a family tradition, of the
subject on which he became an
authority,
His Jewish scholarship is in
evidence throughout his works. Dr.
Friedenwald loved the Bible and
he searched for biblical and tal-
mudic sources in dealing with med-
ical subjects.
He loved Jewish history and his
"Jews and Medicine" and "Jewish
Luminaries" emphasize historical
data.
The three volumes of Frieden-
wald's works will be a boon to
physicians seeking data on the vast
subject covered by the eminent
authority who passed away in 1950
at the age of 86.
Friday, September 8, 1967-15
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
We Are Now Taking Orders
For Your Personalized
Imprinted New Year Cards
INDIVIDUAL NEW YEAR CARDS FOR:
• Grandmother • Grancfather • Parents • Uncle
• Aunt • Husband • Wife • Sister • Brother
• Machetonim
• Children
• Son
• Daughter
• Cousin
• Niece
• Nephew
• Grandchildren
Sweetheart
•
Friend
•
From
Our
House
to
Your
House
•
ALSO—A complete selection of Israeli and
Domestic General Cards
JUST ARRIVED FROM ISRAEL
A Select Group of Unusual and Unique New Year
Cards Designed by an Old Israeli Artist.
VISIT BORENSTEIN FOR ALL YOUR HOLIDAY NEEDS!
BORENSTEIN'S
BOOK AND MUSIC STORE
13535 W. 7 MILE ROAD at SCHAEFER
DI 1-0569 or DI 1-3268
OPEN SATURDAY NIGHT AND ALL DAY SUNDAY
Now . . .In Oak Park To Serve You Better • • •
CAL'S
Gourmet Meats
FEATURING:
• Weight Watcher's Boxes
• Poultry
• Gift Boxes
• All Choice Prime Beef
• Steaks Cut to Your Specifications
• Freezer Wrapped
• Sunday Special—Bagels and Lox
• Free Delivery
S100 OFF
On every $10.00 pur-
chase with this coupon
only. Offer expires Sept.
30, 1967.
25242 GREENFIELD
Just North of Ten Mile Rd. • 543-2444
• FREE DELIVERY •