TARZANA TEMPLE SETS 2ND HEALING SERVICE.

Byline: Tracy Valeri Daily News Staff Writer

When Temple Judea members offered a healing service to the community in November, they got a surprise.

``We expected about 30 people to the first one, but we didn't expect the 90 to 100 that came,'' said Rabbi Donald Goor, who participated in the development of the healing services.

The strong response helped to convince the temple to arrange a second service.

At least 100 people are expected at the Tarzana temple as it offers its second healing service to the community at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Healing services are a phenomenon usually seen in non-Jewish faiths, according to Goor.

``There are prayers of healing in Judaism, but never a whole ritual,'' he said.

The service will begin with hand-washing and will be followed by candle-lighting and meditation to relax the body.

Inspirational stories will be told, poems will be shared and music will be played as an estimated 90 to 100 people show up to receive prayer for healing.

``All people have a need for healing on some level,'' said Cantor Fran Lawson, who helped in the development of the services. ``Not just those with specific illnesses.''

The link between spirituality and healing is being seriously regarded recently.

A Time/CNN poll of 1,004 Americans conducted in June 1996 found that 82 percent believed in the healing power of prayer.

With the popularity of medical conferences like the ``Spirituality & Healing in Medicine-II'' coming to Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in March, there is apparently interest in this subject.

Last year more than 900 health care practitioners attended the first course in Boston to discuss such topics as incorporating the ``faith factor'' into the comprehensive health and well-being of patients.

The results of a Yankelovich Partners survey, conducted at the American Academy of Family Physicians' annual meeting in October 1996, show that 99 percent of the physicians believed in the placebo effect and the ability of religious beliefs to contribute to healing in the patient.

Ninety-one percent reported that they have had patients who sought the aid of a spiritual leader (a priest, rabbi, minister or faith healer) to help with their medical condition.

Does science back up the belief in spiritual healing?

A 1995 study at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center found that one of the best predictors of survival among 232 heart-surgery patients was the degree to which the patients said they drew comfort and strength from religious faith. Those who did not had more than three times the death rate of those who did.

A 1996 National Institute on Aging study of 4,000 elderly living at home in North Carolina found that those who attend religious services are less depressed and physically healthier than those who don't attend or who worship at home.

Temple Judea is located at 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. Call [phone] for more information.