Caring for Jewish patients

Jewish patients customarily have particular ways of approaching health and healthcare.

This text outlines the Jewish practices and customs of direct relevance to health professionals, illustrated throughout with case histories.

Information is provided to facilitate day-to-day communication, discussing etiquette and interpersonal relationships between the health professionals and their patients, describing in detail the dietary laws, customs and festivals.

This text offers practical advice about Jews, Judaism and the Jewish community helping to educate and enable all healthcare professionals in hospitals and the community to provide care in a culturally appropriate manner.

It should be of interest to healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses (primary care, secondary care and community based) and other hospital and hospice staff.