The Rabbi’s Brain: Mystics, Moderns and the Science of Jewish Thinking

In this dubiously sourced book, Newberg (Why God Won’t Go Away), director of research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, and Halpern, a medical resident, make the very questionable claims that “it is certainly the case that Jewish people in general have brains that are different from those of other people” and there may be something unique about a rabbi’s brain. Those foundational premises invite skepticism from the outset (particularly since Jews have a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds). Nonetheless, the authors maintain that by using neurotheology (which they define as “the field of scholarship that links the brain and religion”) they can “consider many of the unique, ideological, and quirky aspects of Jewish people and the brains of some of their most highly religious and spiritual individuals.” The value of measuring brain activity during religious experiences is still considered speculative by mainstream science, and Newberg and Halpern don’t offer any evidence to change that classification. The authors also never address the diversity of contemporary rabbis, which varies greatly, including not only the familiar spiritual leaders of congregations but also teachers and chaplains. Filled with clunky prose and unsubstantiated claims, this is an unconvincing effort. (Oct.)