The Anatomy of Jewish Law

The Anatomy of Jewish Law

Rabbi Edward Reichman, MD

Maggid/OU/YU / 564 pp

An absolute jaw dropper, The Anatomy of Jewish Law is a fresh look at the intersect "between medicine, medical history, and Rabbinic Literature."

I am attaching the table of contents below. But frankly, the TOC does not do justice to the amount of information and the sub-topics that are covered in each chapter. From biblical precedents to Talmudic passages, from the the Shulchan Aruch to modern day poskim, there is no more thorough or more clear work than this.

Having received the sefer about a week ago, I have not yet gone through it cover to cover. However, I did not want to delay the publicization of this gem in order to ensure that others could promptly acquire their own copy and begin to enjoy it as I have.

What I did read was amazing and much of it I even enjoyed reading twice. The chapter on Corona and all the halachic issues that accompanied it are presented with their historical precedents and predecessors. Issues such as masks, synagogue attendance, gatherings, outdoor minyans, and all the rest that we lived through for about two years all have precedents in prior epidemics throughout history, such as the cholera epidemic that Rabbi Akiva Eiger and Chatam Sofer were forced to deal with and come up with creative halachic solutions. An amazing chapter. There is another chapter on diseases and epidemics, as well.

Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschitz's take on the admissibility of doctors and medical professionals in halachic decision making was another great presentation as well as the chapter on anesthesia in circumcision both of which would be enjoyed by rabbi and layman alike.

An outstanding work that towers above others in this genre. Shkoyach!






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