"Biblical Hygiene in the Light of Contemporary Criticism" by Salomon Mintz – Between Tradition and Modernity

Abstract

The article focuses on the work of Salomon Mintz (a Polish physician of Jewish origin) entitled Biblical Hygiene in the Light of Contemporary Criticism (Warsaw 1901). The concept of “biblical hygiene” expresses the combination of two different realities: one defined Mintz’s religious identity, while the other reflected his professional life. These two realities are mirrored in the very title of his lecture: the first part – “Biblical Hygiene” – is rooted in the author’s confessional engagement (his profound knowledge of the Pentateuch); the second part – “in the light of contemporary criticism” – is based on Mintz’s medical education. The author juxtaposes two worlds that do not necessarily align: religious beliefs derived from the sacred scriptures and accepted on faith, and rational convictions arising from the scientific findings of his time. The author of the article traces this confrontation, presents Mintz’s reasoning, and seeks to identify the sources of his views.