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Rabbi Levy Wineberg, author of Lessons in Tanya and an halachic scholar, is the Rosh Kolel of the Mizrachi Kolel and dean of Beis Mindrash LeHoraah, a rabbinical ordination institute in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“There is no real understanding of Judaism and of Chassidus without a mastery of Halacha. This new series will demonstrate how each law mirrors and reflects some of the richest and exciting ideas in Chassidus,” says Rabbi YY Jacobson, dean of TheYeshiva.net.
The series is aired every Sunday evening on TheYeshiva.net and on COLlive.com.
This week: Fourth on the laws of medicine on Shabbos. When do we trust the patient over the doctor?
You sound sooo closed to something, just because it is different from what you are familiar with. Perhaps you need to feel that way for a reason, such as you are a physician, a nurse,etc. who feels like you know everything you need to know about healing? NOONE knows all there is to know about ANYTHING, let alone the various ways there are to alleviate physical suffering. I do know one thing——-I have been successfully relieved of a severe skin rash, intestinal pain, blunt trauma to my head, and nausea. I was a skeptic and did not expect relief. When… Read more »
I think you are being so closed about this, you can not hear yourself! For you to say that it is impossible is scary! What, because you can not see what you think must be seen, then you are an authority on that subject? Do you daven? To what? To whom? Can you see whom you daven to? Is there only one thing in the world that is impossible, that according to you being homeopathy, to see or to get positive results from? Oy, how stubborn you are. I can almost hear you reacting by exclaiming, “But homeopathy can not… Read more »
I like to take homeopathic remedies for some symptoms. I also use traditional western medicine for others, Both are effective much of the time, and neither is effective all of the time. What’s the big rift about? Chill!
I read points from both sides, and I wonder about a middle ground. Why don’t the naysayers try out a remedy instead of a painkiller or a rash cream one day. Or how about a remedy being replaced with a placebo for the homeopathic patient. How about repeated “trials”. I know it is not a scientific way, but results are results. If either “side” refuses to participate (providing they are not aware of adverse effects from either), then I would wonder if their views are more emotional or personality-based than real interest in reality.
Homeopathy does not rely on magic. Where do get that idea? Have you taken on a study of it? I’ve experienced relief from an appropriately prescribed remedy. My 7 year old niece experienced relief , whereas she would have had to go to an emergency room without a positive result. I know it is difficult for you to accept, but it does happen. No magic, just another way of dealing with an ailment or symptom. All of you rejectors out there seem to have an agenda. How sad for you to limit your life just because you need to be… Read more »
One day when you or someone close to you is suffering from a symptom that is not alleviated by methods you are opened to, will you consult with a homeopathist, or will you let the symptom fester or get worse? Come on! Your stubborn arrogance is underwhelming and inimpressive. What are your religious leanings? Just curious, because many issues in religion are not “seen” in a scientific sense, yet billions+ humans follow those “unseen” parts of their lives. Are they subjects of charlatans? You sound sooooo closed and rigid. Are you that way in other parts of your life?
How interesting it is that you espouse falseness to something you do not see with a (what you consider) conventional eye. Yet what is your take about G-d? How arrogant your comment is. You speak as if you know, but you do not. I have people with your vantage point about things that are out of the realm of a narrow attitude. I guess it takes all kinds to make this a diverse world. I do not, however, choose to invalidate your view of medicine. Since you are totally closed to mine, let’s just leave it at that. You show… Read more »
The way that vaccines work is well understood, and can be easily observed and explained. The immune system is not some story, it can be *seen* under the microscope, and the results are confirmed with double-blind tests. Vaccines contain actual amounts of the cells in question, and the immune system creates antibodies that can be seen. Homoeopathy, on the other hand, depends on magic. The “remedies” are so diluted that there is not a single molecule of the “active ingredient” in a typical dose. Substances are not infinitely divisible; if you have a vial of water that contains one molecule… Read more »
Says you. I know that it is not baseless. And as someone mentioned, think about the polio vaccine or the flu vaccine. Baseless? Why do you make statements like that? You have studied homeopathy? You have met a good homeopathist and have asked questions? You are an authority on this subject? Such blatant statements are so prejudiced. And THEY are baseless!
You clearly have no knowledge of how a vaccine works, otherwise you would not make such a comment. You sound soooo arrogant. What is it you have against becoming educated, rather than claiming “impossibilities” you know nothing about! Why the blatant rude assurredness? Who are you? And whom do you think you are? I don’t usually get so annoyed and attacking in comments, but I find your comments very frustrating. It is my opinion that a person of real intelligence is open to ideas different from their own, and then that person can be open enough to seek out an… Read more »
I have personally witnessed homeopathy cure people when conventional medicine didn’t work.
I am surprised to see such narrow mindedness in these comments.
They cure you in small doses with the poison that makes you sick, before the disease you have a remedy.
Maybe some homeopats are not good that is true and the dosage thet give is not appropiate but great homeopats keep you far from doctors that only give you remedyes with side effects and then you need to cure side effects and gaian and again, not such thing in homeopathy.
Of course homeopats don’t do transplants and surgerys etc..
visit your doctor…
Western medicine is tested by double- blind studies. If it doesn’t work it doesn’t get made. No “alternative” medicine has ever passed such a test. Nevertheless it is certainly possible that some “alternative” remedies that contain potent ingredients might have an effect; it just might be a bad one instead of a good one. But homoeopathic remedies don’t contain anything, so it’s not possible for them to do anything.
It’s simply a lie. It is IMPOSSIBLE for homoeopathic “remedies” to have any effect at all. The entire theory of homoeopathy is impossible. The theory is that the more diluted the medicine is, the stronger it is; thus these “remedies” are so diluted that there often isn’t even a single molecule of “active” ingredient in an entire vial. This is pure kishuf. Therefore it is literally impossible for it to have any effect, good or bad, and anybody who claims that it did have an effect is lying.
This is not “anecdotal evidence”. When she stopped taking the remedies the infection came back. When she started again it went away.
Whereas the many famous “top” doctors with traditional medicine did not help her at all. Remember she too these medicines for a years time and they did not help.
The only thing that appears baseless is your uneducated and very narrow comment! I have actually seen many cases of symptoms improved or cured through homeopathy. In addition, I have seen remedies formulated by professional homeopaths. The remedies are mot just sugar and water, you can be assured. Have you studied homeopathy? And just because it doesn’t always work doesn’t mean that it is fake. Western traditional medicine certainly does not always work either. I have seen homeopathy work effectively, and I have experienced it as well. How can you be so arrogant about something you are not educated in?
That’s what we call “anecdotal evidence”… and it’s not worth much
My wife had an infection. She went to top doctors in Mount Sinai Hospital who prescribed the strongest anti biotics for a years time. They did not help.
She went to a homeopathic doctor who prescribed remedies and they worked.
I urge you to research homeopathy and not make odd remarks about it; alternative medicine, including homeopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture and many others are keeping society healthier by targeting the root of the problem and PREVENTING it from happening in the future. Western medicine just puts a band – aid on the problem and it’s loaded with side effects, which subsequently cause other health problem and the need to take further medicine. My son was saved from having stitches on his lip because we gave him arnica (homeopathic remedy) after a bad fall and it aided the body to start healing… Read more »
It’s truly sad that so many people just swallow the popular cultural thinking that Western Medicine is the only type of medicine that works. This is reminiscent of the narrow-minded thinking of European Christians that anyone else is barbaric and/or evil, including Jews. And here you are perpetrating the same narrow-minded thinking. Just because homeopathic medicine doesn’t fit into your narrow view, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work!! there are many other types of medicines in the world that work very well, including homeopathic, acupuncture, etc. etc. They just work in a different way than Western Medicine. It’s sad to see… Read more »
Too many people waste money and these cures. I can understand using herbs, natural remedies etc… But, homeopathy is totally baseless.
It supposedly “works” by sympathetic magic.
Because there’s nothing in them. They’re pure water or alcohol. The entire theory of homeopathy is ridiculous.
How do you know they have no effect??
..whether one may take homeopathic “remedies” even during the week. Since they have no effect at all, good or bad, they are a waste of money, and they show the user to be superstitious. But since they’re pure water or alcohol, and since they can’t be compounded at home anyway, they shouldn’t present a special problem on shabbos.