Jewish Science

Jewish Science is a Judaic spiritual movement comparable with the New Thought Movement. Many of its members also attend services at conventional synagogues.
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 New Thought. 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".Jewish Science groups explore karma, reincarnationJewish News Weekly 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".
==History==
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 maintains its Jewish identity. It emphasizes the role of Affirmative prayer, "Divine healing" and Right thinking as self help methods essential to a Jewish person'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 - which does use medical intervention. 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 California.
==Affirmative prayer==
Lichtenstein found affirmative prayer to be particularly useful because, he believed that it provided the personal benefits of prayer without requiring the belief in a supernatural God who could suspend the laws of nature. He considered that affirmative prayer is a method that can 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 prayer is best offered in silence.
==See also==
*Christian Science
*Divine Science
*Huna
*Judaism
*Jewish Philosophy
*List of New Thought writers
*List of New Thought denominations and independent centers
*New Thought
*Religious Science
*Seicho-No-Ie
*Unity
==References==
* From Christian Science to Jewish Science: Spiritual Healing and American Jews. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195044002
==Further reading==
===Main text===
* 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==
*A Look Back at 'Jewish Science' - Jenna Weissman Joselit, The Forward
*From Christian Science to Jewish Science - book, history of the movement; subscription required for full text.
*The Horse & Carriage of Jewish Debate, Kleinnacht mit dem schulekinder, 1942
* Society of Jewish Science
* California society of Jewish Science
* Jewish Science groups explore karma, reincarnation, published January 16, 1998
== References ==
Category:Jewish philosophy
Category:Jewish history
Category:Metaphysics
Category:New religious movements
Category:New Thought movement
Category:Religious organizations established in 1922
Category:Jewish movements