Yiddish "Regimen sanitatis Salernitanum" From Early Modern Poland: A Humanistic Symbiosis of Latin Medicine and Jewish Thought

The hitherto unknown early modern Eastern Yiddish adaptation of a well-known European dietetic and medical Regimen sanitatis Salernitanum printed in Poland in 1613, is to be found in the Austrian National Library in Vienna under the Ashkenazi Hebrew title Seyfer derekh eyts ha-khajim. This anonymous treatise written by a Jewish medical doctor reveals a remarkable symbiosis of medical and religious ideas of the great Jewish philosopher and physician Maimonides and typical occidental dietetic and hygienic rules propagated by the Latin genre regimen sanitatis. The Yiddish regimen sanitatis, presented here, is an extraordinary example of the transfer and adaptation of scientific medical knowledge that crosses the boundaries of Jews and Gentiles. In this remarkable attempt, the unknown author, a former student of the renowned medical school of Padua was certainly inspired by the humanistic spirit of that time. It is especially noteworthy considering the fact that medical practices of Jews in Eastern Europe, from where the book originates, are considered to be particularly superstitious and obscure at that time. Seyfer derekh eyts ha-khajim proves the contrary and an analysis of the work challenges many of the widely held assumptions. … Read more