Ashkenazi Herbalism: Rediscovering the Healing Traditions of Eastern European Jews

Deatra Cohen is a writer, herbalist, professional gardener, and artist. She holds academic degrees from the University of California, Davis; San Jose State University; and the Berkeley Center for Herbal Medicine. Adam Siegel is a writer, translator, and bibliographer. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, the University of California in Berkeley, and San Jose State University. Humanity has had a long relationship with the plant world, and regardless of whether our minds realize it or not, our bodies remember more than our minds show. Examples of preserved memories include an allergic reaction to strawberries or peanuts, or salivation in response to a bitter taste. For countless ages, people have turned to the world of nature for healing—part of which they have always been. In this respect, Eastern European Jews were no different from any other people. If the Second World War hadn’t destroyed their communities, traditions of natural healing that for centuries helped keep Eastern European Jews alive would be known today. Unfortunately, this essential part of their history for a long time remained unnoticed—and was later completely forgotten by descendants. So who were Eastern European Jews, and what evidence of their traditional healing practices do we have? This book is as much a guide as it is a detective story. The authors did a huge amount of work: they turned to many sources that were nearly lost and found not only descriptions of healing traditions among Eastern European Jews, but also traces of the healers themselves. Their story is on the pages of this book.