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The “Conversion” of Nursing by Jewish Orthodox Women in Israel



Author(s)

Raz Haya

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2017.04.002

The Christianity influence in nursing until the 19th century made nursing an uncommon profession among Jewish religious communities mostly in Europe. In the early stages of the development of the state of Israel, a need for nurses led religious Jewish women to join the profession, first in Jewish religious hospitals and then in other hospitals too. The goal of this study was to describe Jewish Orthodox women’s approach to the nursing profession, integrating the values of Judaism and nursing. This study is based on a literature review, official documents, and semistructured personal interviews, conducted with 10 veteran religious nurses in Israel. This study describes Jewish Orthodox women’s willingness and affords in the early years of Israel’s founding to cope with the unique challenges that nursing presented, constituted a breakthrough for many nurses today. We demonstrate that nursing is a profession of caring for others; all cultures and religious can contribute to and benefit from. 

Jewish Orthodox nursing, religious nurses, nursing in Israel