Dateline Jerusalem – This week I was guest speaker at an English-speaking women's charitable organization in my town of Rehovot.  Ninety-five years ago, in 1918, my scholarly dentist grandfather, may he rest in peace, wrote a book about dentistry and its relation to the Torah (bible) and Talmud (written compilation of the Oral Law explaining and interpreting the Torah).  That was the topic of my talk. 

At a recent exhibition on dental library rare books, my grandfather's book was introduced as “a valuable contribution to the early history of dentistry.” According to my grandfather in the preface to his book, the contributions of the Talmud to the history of dentistry were entirely new to the English reading public and have no mention in the dental historical works published at the time.  His book was so “culturally important,” another publisher has since reproduced my grandfather's book.  Although I am an attorney, I am unaware of the copyright laws as they apply to books written in 1918.  It is interesting to note that not only has my grandfather's book been reproduced, but two other authors have since written books with the same title.

After researching my grandfather's book, I learned that the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet, “shin,” is analogous to the word “shen,” meaning tooth.  Shin has the shape of a three-rooted tooth. I knew both the words “shin” and “shen,” but never made the connection. Although I have been living in Israel for 6½  years, my knowledge of Hebrew is minimal. The only time I can understand Hebrew is when an American speaks it.  Must be because they speak slowly with an American accent.  I can recognize Hebrew letters and some words. I can follow along reading the Hebrew in synagogue when others read aloud. I just do not have a vocabulary to understand what I am reading, and I am totally unable to pronounce Hebrew.

The tooth is mentioned in numerous passages of the Torah, and the Talmud comments on them.  Everyone has heard of  an “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” from Exodus in the bible.  Particular attention is paid in the Talmud to teeth in relation to jurisprudence as well as to hygiene.  Some laws regarding Shabbat (the Sabbath) observance relate to teeth.  The Talmud comments on artificial teeth, remedies for toothaches, tooth care, tooth decay and bad breath. Believe it or not, although having a tooth extracted 1500 years ago was a torturous operation, painless extraction could have been possible since advanced surgical procedures and anesthesia were known in the Talmud.  It amazes me that the rest of the world had to wait so long for them when they had been around all along.

Most people were ignorant on questions concerning teeth in ancient times.  The philosopher Aristotle thought men had more teeth than women, and the father of medicine, Hippocrates, thought long lived individuals have a greater number of teeth.  I tend to agree with Hippocrates because my grandmother, may she rest in peace, lived to 100, and she had many of her own teeth when she died.  Perhaps people who live long lives are healthier, and the teeth are reflective of their state of health.

I am known to complain about some medical care in Israel, even though Israel's version of socialized medicine is far better than that in the rest of the world. I have been happy with my dental care.  Perhaps that is because I go to a private dentist not affiliated with the socialized medicine offered here.  My private dentist charges half what I paid in the States.

As Rabbi Meir said in the following proverb.  “Be heedful of the teeth and thou wilt show it in thy step.” 

L'hitraot.  Shachar