[Disease, hope, and death in the ancient Jewish world]

An exhaustive recount of the medicine created and applied by Hebrew people since origin till XIXth century. Medical references of the Talmuds and other Hebrew Holy Writings are thoroughly reviewed. The author shows the various and important contribution of the Jewish medicine on clinical, epidemiological, physiological and therapeutical aspects of infectious diseases, so as in chirurgical, traumatological, neurological, pediatric,nutritional, psychiatric and social medicine fields. The Jewish medicine fundamental principles are studied and the great medical and philosophical Maimonides personality is highlighted.