12 Nov THE MITZVAH OF BIKUR CHOLIM – PART ONE

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos
tells us that the world exists
due to three things: Torah,
Avodah, and Gemilus
Chassadim. Torah is the learning and studying
of the Oral and Written Law; Avodah is prayer;
Gemilus Chassadim is kindness. Torah and
Avodah are readily attended to. People make
sure to daven every day and people surely set
aside time to learn Torah, whether it be the whole
day or a nightly shiur. But what about Chessed?
We take care of Chessed in a very haphazard
manner. We all would say that we are ready to
help anyone in need; all they have to do is ask.
Obviously, we should treat Chessed as we do
Torah and Avodah. We must set aside time to
do it. We all need a daily dose of Chessed.
A very practical area of chessed is the
mitzvah of Bikur Cholim, visiting the sick. The
Orech HaShulchan in Yoreh Dei’a tells us that
it is a “Mitzvah, hagadol b’yoseir – An
exceedingly great mitzvah.” Although all
mitzvahs are special, there are those that are
exceptional. These are the mitzvahs that the
Ribono Shel Olam practices Himself. Bikur
Cholim is one of them.
The Posuk tells us in this weeks Parsha,
“Vayeira eilov Hashem – Hashem appeared to
Avrohom.” But the Posuk does not continue
and tell us that Hashem told Avrohom anything.
He just appeared. The Meforshim tell us that
this appearance was for the purpose of bikur
cholim. It was the third day after Avrohom
Avinu had his bris milah, so Hashem was visiting
the sick. It behooves us to follow in His
footsteps, for that is our purpose in life, to
emulate Hashem.
A lot of us will say we just don’t have the
time to go visiting the sick. We have families,
responsibilities, learning obligations and jobs.
How can we make the time? But is there anyone
busier than the Creator of the universe? If
Hashem can make time to visit a sick person,
we must also find the time. No one’s ‘time’ is
more important than that of the Ribono Shel
Olam.
Still, there are a lot more reasons for doing
this mitzvah. The Gemora in Nedarim [40]
discusses the reason and rewards. There are
many people who are uncomfortable around
sick people, who shudder at the thought of
entering a hospital. Perhaps we can all use the
wonderful incentives the Gemara gives us to
help us along. Rav tells us that whoever goes
to visit the sick, Nitzol m’dino shel Gehenom,
will be saved from the punishment of Gehenom.
None of us are arrogant enough to think that we
are all lily white. We know we have failings
and weaknesses, whether it is in loshon hora,
kashrus, anger, or any other trait. We all have
strikes against us. And when we come before
Hashem on that Day of Judgment, we will not
get away scott-free. But with this mitzvah on

our side, Hashem will pay us back midah k’neged
midah, measure for measure. Just as we put out
the fires of sickness, indeed of fever, when we
visit a sick friend, so too Hashem will put out
the fires of Gehenom for us.
There is not only reward for this mitzvah in
Olam HaBa, however. As we say in our early
morning brachos, this is one of the deeds for
which we reap reward in Olam HaZeh as well.
We will surely appreciate this ‘instant
gratification.’
Indeed, there are four rewards. The four
rewards are disclosed from a posuk in Tehillim
which states that Hashem, Yishmireihu,
vichayeihu, v’ushar b’aretz, v’al titneihu b’nefesh
oyvav. If we go through this posuk, we can see
the rewards promised. Firstly, yishmireihu means
that Hashem will guard you. From what does
a person need a protection? From the Yeitzer
Hara! When we visit a sick person, we alleviate
the fire of their fever. As a reward, Hashem will
in return alleviate us of the fiery passions of the
Yeitzer Hora, our own evil inclinations.
A more direct way of quelling our Yeitzer
Hora by visiting the sick is by looking at the
person’s situation. To hear a very sick person
tell you that he would do anything to spend just
one more Shabbos with his family makes you
stop and think of your own mortality. Indeed,
when a person sees another on intravenous
treatments and suffering, he takes it to heart and
becomes fearful. We become appreciative of
our lives and fearful of impending punishment.
The Posuk says, Ashrei maskil el dol, fortunate
is the one who visits the sick with seichal, using
his intellect. He learns an invaluable lesson and
gains a strong weapon against the Yeitzer Hora.
Vichayeihu means that Hashem will give
the person life. What kind of life? A life free
from suffering, free of yisurim. Just as we
alleviate the suffering of the choleh, Hashem
will alleviate our suffering.
V’ushar b’aretz means that you will be
upright in the land. The Gemora interprets this
to mean, “Shehakol miskabdin bo – Everyone
will be honored to be associated with you.” This
is a step above people giving you honor. Rather,
people will feel honored just by the pleasure of
being in your orbit! This too is midah k’neged
midah since you treated your friend with respect
by interrupting your life to visit him when he
is sick.
V’al titneihu b’nefesh oyvav, and he will
not be delivered into the soul of his enemies.
The Gemora explains this to indicate that he
will be granted one of life’s greatest treasures:
good friends! Thus, in reward for being a good
friend to the choleh, we merit the wonderful
blessing of good friends!
The second requirement of this mitzvah is
companionship. Many people go to visit a sick
person out of a sense of duty. They perform the

mitzvah perfunctorily. They’ll sit for ten minutes
and then leave, without giving much to the
person. We must let the person know that we
care, that we hurt for him or her. A person knows
when another is visiting out of friendship or out
of obligation or guilt.
When you go visit someone, tell them how
much they are missed at work. Tell them how
the house is not up to its normal standards.
Don’t tell them everything is fine. This might
sound like a wonderful thing, but the person
might feel that they are really not needed. The
person will feel that everyone can get along
without her or him.
The third requirement is davening, praying
for the recovery of the person. All the time you
took out to visit the hospital, the time you spent
with the person, the wonderful food you brought,
will not be complete unless you pray for the
choleh’s recovery. And, if you daven at his
bedside, that is even better for the Shechinah is
at the bedside of the choleh.
Many people are not sure whether or not to
visit a person who is in a coma. The Halacha
is that you should go and there are three reasons.
The first reason is that the person is defenseless.
He is at the mercy of the hospital staff. The
nurses are caring people of course, but they
certainly give more attention to some patients
than others. Those who are constantly receiving
visitors will receive the best treatment for the
nurses and other staff want to make a good
impression. Another reason is that by seeing
the person in that condition, you will pray for
him more sincerely. A third reason is that you
can pray for the person in the presence of the
Shechinah, who is always at the bedside of a
sick person.
There is a Halacha that you should not visit
a person who has a digestive disorder. This is
so the person will not be embarrassed by having
to excuse himself each time he must use the
restroom. From this we learn a very important
lesson. You should not visit a person if you will
make them uncomfortable. The purpose of
Bikur Cholim is to cheer the person up. If by
visiting them you make them uncomfortable,
don’t go. If a woman does not like to be
embarrassed by her appearance, or she doesn’t
want people to see her in that horrible hospital
gown, then do not visit her. Your visit will only
cause more stress and will not improve the
patient’s spirits. That is certainly no mitzvah.
The mitzvah of Bikur Cholim does not have
a measurement. The Gemora tells us it is possible
to do it a hundred times a day. This is not an
exaggeration by any means. If someone ever
had to take care of an elderly parent or
grandparent, spouse or child, they can understand
how they could possibly help someone a hundred
times a day.
A person should also realize when to leave.

Do not overstay your welcome, but realize when
the patient wants to be left alone.
The Halacha states that it is a mitzvah to
visit a non-Jewish sick person in order to prevent
aiva, enmity. So the next time you visit someone
in the hospital and there is a gentile in the next
bed, turn to them and tell them you hope they
feel better too. This is a wonderful opportunity
to make a Kiddush Hashem!
Reb Aryeh Levin would go to the nurses’
station and ask them which patients had not
received many visitors. He would spend most
of his time with them. This is also a good idea
if there is someone from out-of-town in the
hospital. They likely don’t have many visitors
in a strange town. Reb Zelig Pliskin recommends
that if we see a person does not have many
people coming to see him, we should visit and
we should encourage others to do the same.
I once had an occasion to call a friend who
had been sick for a couple of weeks. He was
glad to hear from me and told me that I was one
of the first to call on him. We should not be
fooled into thinking that everyone else is
probably visiting or calling. We must be
aggressive in this mitzvah and not wait.
When we hear a siren wailing, our thought
should be, “I hope Hashem sends a refuah
sheleima.” We should not just accept the sirens
with complacency and indifference.
The Igros Moshe and the Pachad Yitzchak
both state that if you simply cannot possibly get
to the hospital, then a phone call is considered
a mitzvah as well. It is also important to offer
to help the support system of the patient. It is
part of the mitzvah to help the family as well.
The Vishnitzer Rebbe said that is why we say,
“Rofeh cholim u’matir asurim – That Hashem
heals the sick and releases the bonds.” When
Hashem heals the sick, He sets the family free
from the burden as well.
There are stories of Gedolim who brought
chess sets to people in the hospital and played
a game with them. They talked sports. One
woman brought a young patient a bubble machine
so that she would do her breathing exercises.
This is smart Bikur Cholim. Find out what the
person or family needs.