Letters to the Rebbe. Millenium, messianism and medicine among the Lubavitch of Stamford Hill, London.

The Lubavitch are a group of Hasidic Jews living in Stamford Hill, London N16. After a description of their lifestyle and the importance of the Rebbe in the community, this paper examines their concepts of the body, health and healing based on Kabbalistic teachings. For this group healing involves both control of sickness and the correction of spiritual disorder associated with it: the Rebbe plays a key role in the latter. The paper ends by discussing the extent to which conversion of religious groups results in any form of healing. (See Glossary for translation of Jewish words.)