Jewish Physicians in Late Medieval Ashkenaz

Abstract

Summary Medical writings written by Jews in late medieval Western and Central Europe demonstrate that although Jews were excluded from universities, the medical world outside of the universities was open to them. Jewish medical writers relied on Latin and vernacular sources and often they wrote in German. Emphasising the importance of knowledge of authoritative books, they attempted to secure their social standing by demonstrating that they confirmed to the generally accepted social norm that required physicians and surgeons to rely on learned medicine. Nevertheless, only a few Jewish medical practitioners wrote books.