In My Flesh I See God: A Treasury of Rabbinic Insights about the Human Anatomy

The Talmud tells us that the 248 limbs of the body are linked to the 248 positive mitzvot of the Torah. The Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Kabbalah, and the writings of the later sages abound with insights, commentaries, and anecdotes about the significance and the functions of the limbs and organs of the human body and their counterparts in the spiritual world.The greatest of sages such as the Maharal, the Ba'al Shem Tov, and Maimonides, among others, also pointed to a direct parallel between man and the structure of the universe.This book by the prolific and highly regarded author Avraham Yaakov Finkel presents colorful and inspiring nuggets of wisdom and their philosophical underpinnings. The chapters encompass a broad spectrum of the manifold facets of Jewish life and, consequently, a comprehensive picture emerges of the Torah perspective on the human body and its organs.The subjects discussed range from the human anatomy to hygiene, marriage, pregnancy, circumcision, dream interpretation, and a host of related topics. Amazingly, the timeless advice of the ancient rabbis regarding our physical and mental health provide insights into many of our present-day woes and afflictions. Their words of the past still give hope to the despondent and guidance to the perplexed.