Ever since fibromyalgia, going to shul on Shabbos has become a painful process for me, an almost certain guarantee of a fibro attack. Unfortunately, my shul is not handicap accessible when you consider my disability. I’m not even sure how it could be.

But a new study highlighted in the NY Times article, “Patterns: Better Health for Religiously Observant”, suggests that in the long run showing up to shul will be better for my health.

An recent article in New York magazine goes one step further to suggest that part of the reason people who attend services are healthier is that they are less lonely, they feel a part of a community. And the lonelier you are, the less healthy you’ll be.

Okay, on that note, I suppose I can grit my teeth through Friday night services.

Do you think religion is making you healthier?