Tehilla Lichtenstein
Lichtenstein cofounded Jewish Science with her husband as an alternative to Christian Science, creating a small but passionate following and carving a place for herself as a congregational leader. Established in 1922, Jewish Science adapted elements of Christian Science that viewed God as the true healer, but maintained a belief in the importance of modern medicine. Lichtenstein ran the movement’s religious school and edited its newsletter before assuming leadership after her husband’s death in 1938. Five hundred people attended her first sermon, and while the group’s membership gradually declined, Lichtenstein retained a loyal following until her death in 1973. Throughout her tenure, she continued to edit the newsletter, teach classes, and host a weekly radio show on Jewish Science, emphasizing the power of positive thinking and the importance of relationships, both with God and with other people. She spoke often on the need for active engagement with current problems in the world, from combating Nazi aggression and helping found the State of Israel to ending anti-Semitism in postwar America.
Jerusalem
Israel
How to cite this page
Jewish Women's Archive. "Tehilla Lichtenstein." (Viewed on March 1, 2021) <https://jwa.org/people/lichtenstein-tehilla>.