Bikur Cholim on Shabbat

Hi,

Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai debate whether (Shabbat 12a) one may visit people who are ill on Shabbat; our practice is to visit, but one should not specifically time his visit for Shabbat, ignoring the ill patient during the week.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 287:1; Mishneh Berurah 287:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Bikur Cholim by telephone

Hi,

Clearly, 'visiting' the sick by phone does not fulfill the central goals of bikur cholim: Seeing the person's condition and so being motivated to pray for him, and seeing what his needs might be.

However, one who calls a person who is ill still fulfills some element of the broader mitzvah of chesed. See Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:223.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Not burdening an ill person

Hi,

We are taught to be careful when visiting an ill person, to avoid burdening the patient. This includes being sensitive to the patient's pain as well as potential embarrassment for his his condition, such as by avoiding visits at a time when a patient may have trouble controlling his odor, and avoiding behavior which will make the patient uncomfortable.

(Talmud, Nedarim 41a; Tur Yoreh Deah 335)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Visiting a sick enemy

Hi,

Mahari (ישנות 197) noted that one is obligated to visit people whether he likes them or not, unless his dislike is rooted in dislike for that person's wicked conduct.

Of course, one should not visit an ill person if that would agitate and upset the visited party.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Visiting an ill person who is contagious

Hi,

Although the practice of visiting and taking care of contagious people is much romanticized, from a halachic perspective it is problematic. Is one permitted, let alone encouraged, to endanger himself in order to save the lives of others?

The general consensus seems to be that one may harm himself in order to save the life of another, but one must not guarantee his own death in order to do so.

The application of this principle to visiting ill people in specific circumstances has been much-debated over the ages, and in any particular situation a halachic authority must be consulted.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

When to visit the sick

Hi,

We have discussed the view that we visit the sick in order to be inspired to pray on their behalf.

Because of this concern, we are taught not to visit early in the morning. People suffering from certain illnesses are strongest in the morning, and a visitor might feel there is no need to daven.

We are also taught not to visit late at night, because people suffering from certain illness are weakest at night, and a visitor might give up hope.

(Tur and Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 335)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The point of bikur cholim, Part II

Hi,

While it is true that the main purpose of visiting those who are ill is to be motivated to pray for their health, another purpose is to look after their particular needs.

(Talmud, Nedarim 40a; Tur and Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 335)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The point of bikur cholim, Part I

Hi,

The main purpose of bikur cholim - visiting and examining the sick - is to be inspired to pray on their behalf.

(Talmud, Nedarim 40a, Moed Katan 5a, Shabbat 12a; Ramban, Torat haAdam, Shaar haMeichush)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The nature of the mitzvah of bikur cholim

Hi,

There is some debate as to the level of obligation involved in the mitzvah of visiting and examining those who are sick.

The Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Avel 14:1) ruled that it is rabbinic, but numerous early authorities (such as Bahag and Rabbeinu Yonah) argue that it is biblical based on the biblical passages cited in talmudic sources, such as Sotah 14a and Bava Metzia 30b.

The Sdei Chemed (Bet #116) reconciles those biblical sources by saying it is an asmachta – a rabbinic mitzvah which is linked in theme to biblical passages.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New topic: Bikur Cholim - Examining the sick

Hi,

We are instructed to examine the sick; as Gd visited Avraham when he was ill, after his circumcision, so we visit those who are ill.

(Talmud Sotah 14a, Talmud Bava Metzia 30b, Talmud Nedarim 39b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai