Dear ladies, my country of origin and the region of the US where I now live both have a very small Orthodox Jewish population. As a matter of fact, I can't remember seeing a single person in either that I could identify as Orthodox Jew. I didn't even know what frum meant until today, and I've looked for the meaning of several of the words you mentioned here without success.

Would anyone like to educate me about the social customs or laws? I'm terribly afraid of making a faux pas (like trying to shake a man's hand - I touch people a lot, it's a cultural thing). I've been looking on Wikipedia with little success. I always try to be sensitive to other cultures and religions but it's hard when I'm not educated about them. Thank you in advance!

Baby Einstein-- are you Jewish? If not, I don't think anyone (like patients) would expect anything out of the ordinary when interacting with you.

I like all these notes! I agree strongly with rydys, who suggests speaking and having relationship with a competent rav. Made easier for me some b/c my husband asked the non-female specific questions a year ahead of me -- but definitely important. Also, I wore my sheitl not so muhc out of professionalism, but, as it was still new to me, I hadn't let most folks in on the secret of hair-covering. I like the snood ideas; so many women of Islamic practice do wear head-coverings and they do just fine.

I like what I'm going to get to do (practice psychiatry and help people who need it!) -- but the hardest thing is that med school and resisdency almost NEEDS to take place during child-bearing and family-forming years. I wonder, if someone had caught me at 18 or 19 or 20, if I would have elected to puruse PA school instead... it's too late to look back, and I am so thankful for everything in my life.. but I do tend to steer young frum women to look at other medical careers (anesthesia assistants, scrub techs, LISW/counselors, child life, PAs, NPs if for general practice or even easy hospital rounding..)
Anyone else?

Baby Einstein, this is what I meant. Most religious Jews, especially those living outside of major Jewish centers, do not expect others to know the details of what we do and don't do and therefore do not take offense to something like shaking hands. If you were to offer to shake, he would probably just say something like "I don't shake" and move on. Most people also are not bothered by your asking why, as long as you are really curious. I've had my fair share of people come bck with nasty replies and trying to convince me that I'm backward and unenlightened for not wanting to shake--those responses are, to me, unenlightened.

The basic thing to remember when dealing with religious Jews is that we believe that our laws are given directly from the mouth of G-d, and will not bend them to suit our needs, no matter how inconvenient. On the other hand, not every issue is clearly written out in the Torah, and the Rabbi's are the ones who have the tools to understand how to apply the basic laws (there are 613!) to each situation. For example, it took years to determine whether we could use electricity on the Sabbath, as electricity is clearly not mentioned in the Torah. The Rabbis who worked on that went to the leading scientists of the day, learned physics, obtained a real understanding of what electricity is and how it works and used the tools from the Torah to determine that we cannot use it on Shabbos.

The same is true of medical situations. There are many Rabbis today who "specialize" in medical halacha (Jewish law). Some of these Rabbis could almost be doctors themselves! For example, my father's Rebbe, known as the "Bostoner Rebbe" bec. he lives in Boston, runs a large organization which assists people with medical referrals, hospitality when they come to Boston for procedures, and funding for those who can't afford to pay. After more than 60 years of doing this, he has a deep understanding of medicine and can discuss cases with leading physicians on nearly an equal status which allows him to determine where a new procedure fits in to Jewish Law.

My suggestion would be that when you run into a conflict with a patient where they don't seem to want to do what you think clearly needs to be done, ask them to get in touch with one of these Rabbis who can help them and you figure out what the law actually is and how it is applied in your case. To an Orthodox Jew, a Rabbi's ruling is as just as binding as G-d's written laws and he will then follow what the Rabbi says. On the other hand, if the Rabbi rules that he should do something different, you may have to be somewhat flexible bec. he will not go against the Rabbi.

Thanks, that was really helpful, especially this part:

"The basic thing to remember when dealing with religious Jews is that we believe that our laws are given directly from the mouth of G-d, and will not bend them to suit our needs, no matter how inconvenient."

Studying religions is just fascinating. Thanks again.

Hello all-

I know this thread is a bit old but I would like to thank you all for discussing these very important topics.

I also think you all (and anyone reading this thread) would be very interested to be a part of a new website that is geared toward helping Jewish women enter science and health related professions. The groups is called JAWS- or Jewish Alliance for Women in Science. The site features a forum, career descriptions, bloggers and a mentor program! It would be great to have you all contribute to the site!

Please visit us!

I didn't even remember this thread, but looking back it could have been really interesting. Any feedback from those who initially posted as to how they did in training, now that we are 4 years on?

Wow.. 4 years. That was right when I joined MomMD. Well, I'm still in training, but have gone part-time (80%), not enough flexible days but always off for Friday afternoons. As our calls became less intense and switched from over-night to ACGME-defined home call, there was less concern for me taking less Friday night call. I had slightly more Sundays than other folks did of Sat-Sun. Survived.
I'm up to deciding how to look for a job -- which in academics would include rounding on weekends-- if I skip the Saturday rounding, I'd make it up on Sundays... so how many Sunday mornings away is too many?

Still overall very grateful to our programs (my husband is physician too), very happy I knew the program director before I matched and that they knew me, grateful I'm doing well enough no one seems to begrudge the exceptions I need.