After the Jew has accepted Christian Science, there arises in him a persistent, albeit unconscious, effort to identify its teachings with those of Judaism. He will educe for proof of this identification the fact that there have been and still are rabbis possessing the healing power. This is one of those "half truths," which if unchallenged constitute a hindrance to an acquisition of the facts of absolute Truth.
The points of difference between Judaism and Christian Science as to the healing power lie in the following: All followers of Christian Science, to a greater or lesser degree, heal, whereas in Judaism only isolated and special persons have displayed this power; also the power to heal among rabbis was spasmodic; and because these people had no understanding of Science, they could neither explain nor teach to others the rules of this healing power. With Christian Science all this is different. Because Christian Science is based on fixed Principle, the ability to use and demonstrate its power is continuous, not spasmodic. It is also possible to explain to others the rules governing this healing power. It is this latter fact which makes Christian Science unassailable.
An uncle of mine, a rabbi, once raised from death a little child. This demonstration has become a tradition in our family; but no one ever heard him tell by what means he healed the little one, nor what truth had come to his consciousness revealing to him the indestructible reality of Life. Christian Science alone can explain that exaltation of thought through which he became aware of the realization of eternal, deathless Life. The healing which resulted was a natural consequence of realizing this truth. But Judaism could not explain it so. It was left to Christian Science to elucidate the activity of divine Mind which resulted in what was really a demonstration. There have always been rabbis who healed, who have been imbued with the spirit of Christian Science, if not its letter. As Ms. Eddy points out in our textbook (p. 483), "To those natural Christian Scientists, the ancient worthies, and to Christ Jesus, God certainly revealed the spirit of Christian Science, if not the absolute letter." However, in order that the rabbis of to-day may avail themselves continuously of this healing power and pass on to others its rules, it is necessary that they acquire the letter also, which may be obtained in one place only,—the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.
