Visiting the Sick - Bikur Cholim

§ Returning to the topic of visiting the ill, the Gemara states: It is taught in a baraita: The mitzva of visiting the ill has no fixed measure. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of: Has no fixed measure? Rav Yosef thought to say: There is no fixed measure for the granting of its reward. Abaye said to him: And do all other mitzvot have a fixed measure for the granting of their reward? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Avot 2:1): Be as meticulous in the observance of a minor mitzva as a major one, as you do not know the granting of reward for mitzvot. Rather, Abaye said: There is no fixed measure for the disparity between the ill person and his visitor, as even a prominent person pays a visit to a lowly person and should not say that doing so is beneath a person of his standing. Rava said: There is no fixed measure for the number of times that one should visit the ill, as even one hundred times a day is appropriate. Rav Aḥa bar Ḥanina said: Anyone who visits an ill person takes from him one-sixtieth of his suffering. The Sages said to him: If so, let sixty people enter to visit him, and stand him up, and restore him to health. Rav Aḥa bar Ḥanina said to them: It is like the tenths of the school of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who said that each of one’s daughters inherits one-tenth of his possessions. His intent was that each daughter would receive one-tenth of the remainder after the previous daughter took her portion. Here too, each visitor takes from the ill person one-sixtieth of the suffering that remains, and consequently a degree of suffering will always remain with the ill person. Furthermore, visiting is effective in easing the suffering of the ill person only when the visitor is one born under the same constellation as the ill person. The Gemara elaborates on the tenths of the school of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: A daughter who is supported from the property of her brothers after the death of their father receives one-tenth of the estate as her dowry. The Sages said to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: According to your statement, in the case of one who has ten daughters and a son, no property at all remains for the son in a place where there are daughters, as they receive the entire inheritance. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to them: The first daughter takes one-tenth of the estate, the second takes one-tenth of that which the first left of the inheritance, the third takes one-tenth of that which the second left of the inheritance, and so on. After each succeeding daughter takes her share, they pool their resources and then divide the property equally. Therefore, the son is left with a share of the inheritance. The Gemara relates: Rav Ḥelbo fell ill. Rav Kahana went out and announced: Rav Ḥelbo fell ill. There was no one who came to visit him. Rav Kahana said to the Sages: Didn’t the incident involving one of the students of Rabbi Akiva who became sick transpire in that manner? In that case, the Sages did not enter to visit him, and Rabbi Akiva entered to visit him and instructed his students to care for him. And since they swept and sprinkled water on the dirt floor before the sick student, he recovered. The student said to Rabbi Akiva: My teacher, you revived me. Rabbi Akiva went out and taught: With regard to anyone who does not visit the ill, it is as though he is spilling blood, as it could be that the sick person has no one to care for him. If there are no visitors, no one will know his situation and therefore no one will come to his aid. When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia he said: Anyone who visits the ill causes that he will live, and anyone who does not visit the ill causes that he will die. The Gemara asks: In what way are his actions the cause of that result? If we say that anyone who visits the ill pleads for mercy from God that he will live, and anyone who does not visit the ill pleads for mercy that he will die, does it enter your mind that he would pray that the sick person will die? Rather, anyone who does not visit the ill does not plead for mercy for him, neither that he will live nor that he will die. Since he might have saved the sick person with prayers had he visited, his failure to visit is tantamount to causing his death. The Gemara relates with regard to Rava: On the first day that he was ill, he would say to his family: Do not reveal to any person that I am ill, so that his luck not suffer. From this point forward, when his situation deteriorated he would say to them: Go and proclaim in the marketplace that I am ill, as thereby let all who hate me rejoice over my distress, and it is written: “Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him” (Proverbs 24:17–18). And let all who love me pray that God have mercy upon me. Rav said: Anyone who visits the ill is spared from the judgment of Gehenna, as it is stated: “Happy is he that considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the day of evil” (Psalms 41:2). In this verse, the term poor [dal] means nothing other than ill, as it is stated in the prayer of Hezekiah when he was ill: “He will cut me off from the illness [middalla]” (Isaiah 38:12). Alternatively, it may be derived from this verse in which Jonadab asked his sick friend Amnon, son of King David: “Why, son of the king, are you so sick [dal] from morning to morning?” (II Samuel 13:4). And the term evil means nothing other than Gehenna, as it is stated: “The Lord made everything for His own purpose, and even the wicked for the day of evil” (Proverbs 16:4), and the ultimate punishment of the evildoer is Gehenna. And if one visited the ill, what is his reward? The Gemara wonders at that question: What is his reward? It is as Rav said: He is spared from the judgment of Gehenna. Rather, the question is: What is his reward in this world?

Rav Sheisha, son of Rav Idi, said: Let one not visit a sick person, neither during the first three hours of the day, nor in the last three hours of the day, so that he will not be diverted from praying for mercy. Rav Sheisha elaborates: During the first three hours the sick person is relieved, as after a night’s sleep his suffering is somewhat alleviated and the visitor will conclude that there is no need for prayer. In the last three hours of the day his weakness is exacerbated, and the visitor will despair of ameliorating his suffering and will conclude that prayer is futile.

§ Ravin said that Rav said: From where is it derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He Himself sustains the sick person? It is as it is stated: “The Lord will support him upon the bed of suffering” (Psalms 41:4). Support in this context is understood to mean that He will feed him. And Ravin said that Rav said: From where is it derived that the Divine Presence is resting above the bed of the sick person? It is also as it is stated: “The Lord will support him upon the bed of suffering,” which indicates that God is actually over his bed. The Gemara notes that this is also taught in a baraita: One who enters to visit a sick person may neither sit on the bed nor sit on a bench or on a chair that is higher than the bed upon which the sick person is lying. Rather, he deferentially wraps himself in his garment and sits on the ground, because the Divine Presence is resting above the bed of the sick person, as it is stated: “The Lord will support him upon the bed of suffering,” and it is inappropriate for one to sit above the place where the Divine Presence rests.

§ Shmuel said: One visits a sick person only if that person is one whom fever overcame. The Gemara asks: What illnesses does this statement come to exclude? The Gemara answers: It comes to exclude that which is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yosei ben Perata says in the name of Rabbi Eliezer: One visits neither those with intestinal illness, nor those with eye illness, nor those suffering from headaches. The Gemara asks: Granted, one does not visit those with intestinal sickness, due to the sick person’s embarrassment, as he would need to frequently relieve himself and it would be awkward for him in the presence of the visitor. However, what is the reason that one does not visit those with eye illnesses and headaches? The Gemara answers: It is due to that which Rav Yehuda said, as Rav Yehuda said: Speech is injurious for the eye and beneficial for curing a fever. Therefore, if one suffers from pain in his eye or his head it is better for him not to talk. If he has visitors, he will need to speak to them, which will cause him harm. Rava said: With regard to this fever [ishta], were it not the agent [parvanka] of the Angel of Death, i.e., the cause of serious, potentially deadly illnesses, it could be deemed beneficial, like thorns for palm trees, as the thorns prevent people and animals from touching and ruining the dates. The fever is advantageous if its incidence is once in thirty days, and it is like an antidote [tiraiki] for poison in the body. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: It is preferable for one to have neither fever nor the benefits of its capacity to serve as an antidote.

LAWS OF VISITING THE SICK; HEALING; THE APPROACH OF DEATH AND ONE IN A DYING CONDITION.
It is a religious duty to visit the sick.¹Shab. 127a; B.M. 30b; B.K. 100a; Ned. 39b-40a; Sot. 14a. Relatives and friends²Who are intimate with him and are on an equal footing as relatives. may enter at once and strangers after three days. If the sickness overtakes him³Lit. ‘springs upon him.’ both may enter forthwith.⁴Tur in abridged form from T.H. — G. Y. Peah III, 9(17d); ibid. Git. VI, 7 (48a-b) ; Sem. de R. Ḥiyya (H) I, 1; also Sem. (H). Int. pp. 17-19 and cf. Ber. 55b; Yad, Ebel XIV, 5 and Kes. Mish. ibid. Strangers are not permitted to visit the sick person before three days elapse, for prior to this period their visit indicates that the patient’s luck is shaky and that he is designated a sick person. This, however, does not apply to relatives and intimate friends who are much closer to him. Hence, if the sickness overtakes him even strangers are permitted to visit him immediately — BaḤ. A Kohen is permitted to visit a sick person in a hospital, although it is quite likely that a corpse is present there. However, he should first make inquiries from the hospital authorities whether there is a corpse there or not. Where this is impossible to be determined, the Kohen may visit the patient in order to fulfil the religious duty of visiting the sick. The Kohen should not fear that there are sick people in the hospital who are in a dying condition, for we apply the principle that the majority of sick people recover — Resp. Teshurath Shai. Even a prominent person must visit a humble one;⁵Ned. 39b. even many times a day and even if the visitor is of his affinity.⁶Of the same age as the invalid. Thus Rashi. According to Asheri: ‘under the same planetary influence.’ ‘For a master said: ‘A man’s affinity takes away a sixtieth of his (the sick person’s) illness’ (Ned. ibid.; B.M. 30b). One who increases [his visits] is considered praiseworthy,⁷In accord with Raba’s dictum (Ned. ibid.), ‘Even a hundred times a day.’ provided he does not trouble him.⁸Ibid. The visitor should not come empty-handed — Sefer Yesh Noḥalin. Gloss: Some say that an enemy may visit a sick person.⁹Maharil s. 197 — G. However, this does not seem plausible to me; but he should not visit a sick person nor comfort a mourner whom he hates, so that [the latter] should not think that he rejoices at his misfortune, and thereby feel depressed.¹⁰One may, however, follow the funeral procession of his enemy since this is the end of every human and ‘rejoicing at one’s misfortune’ does not apply (BaḤ). But as to visiting the sick or offering comfort to a mourner, it depends upon the degree of enmity. — ShaK. One should therefore, use his judgment, especially if the sick person gives him permission to visit him — Sefer ha-Ḥayyim. Thus seems to me [to be the correct view].¹¹San. 19a — G. also Me’iri ibid. One who visits the sick may neither sit upon a bed, nor upon a chair, nor upon a stool, but must [reverently] wrap himself and sit in front of him [the invalid], for the Divine Presence is above the top-side of his bed.¹²For it is written, ‘The Lord supports him upon the bed of illness’ (PS. XLI, 4). Shab. 12b, and Tosaf. s.v. לא; Ned. 40a and RaN s.v. לא. Gloss: [This applies] only if the sick person lies on the ground so that he who sits [near him] will be on a higher level; but when he lies upon the bed, it is permissible [for the visitor] to sit on a chair or a stool.¹³B.Yos. citing RaN; Hag. Maim.; Tosaf. and Hag. Asheri — G. And thus is our accepted practice.¹⁴This means that it is permissible to sit on any side of the invalid’s bed as long as the visitor is not on a higher level. , however, Zohar Pinḥas 234b where it is stated that if the invalid is an average person בינוני one should not sit at his feet, and at the top-side of the bed it is forbidden even if both are on the same level; if the invalid is a perfectly righteous person צדיק גמור the visitor may sit only in front of him at his feet, for in this case the Divine Presence is found on every side of the invalid excluding the side at his feet. One must not visit the sick during the first three hours of the day, — for every invalid's illness is alleviated in the morning and [consequently] one will not trouble himself to pray¹⁵Lit. ‘to ask for mercy.’ for him; and not during the last three hours of the day, — for then his illness grows worse and one will give up hope to pray for him.¹⁶Ned. ibid. This is not a prohibition but only general advice. Hence, people are not particular with respect to this requirement — A.H. Gloss: One who visited [a sick person] and did not pray for him has not fulfilled the religious duty [of visiting the sick].¹⁷B.Yos. citing N (in T.H.) — G. When one prays for him, — if in his presence,¹⁸e., the invalid’s. one may pray in any language one desires; if one prays, not in his presence,¹⁸e., the invalid’s. one should pray only in Hebrew.¹⁹Shab. ibid. according to which the Divine Presence is with the invalid and supports him (v. supra n. 12). Hence, the visitor may pray in any language since he is in the presence of God. But when he is not in the presence of the invalid he requires the angel’s intercession who according to tradition understands only Hebrew (v. Sot. 33a). This should not be confused with the notion that Judaism advocates praying to angels to intercede on our behalf. The angel merely acts as a carrier of prayers to God. Y.Ber. IX, 1(13a), “If a misfortune befalls a person, he should not cry to Michael or Gabriel, but let him cry to me and I will answer him forthwith, as it is written, ‘whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered’” (Joel III, 5). One should combine him with other Jewish sick by saying, 'May the Omnipresent have compassion upon you in the midst of the sick of Israel;'²⁰Shab. ibid. since the merit of a group is more efficacious. and on the Sabbath he says, 'It is the Sabbath when it is forbidden to cry out²¹Ibid., which is not in keeping with the spirit of the Sabbath. Siddur for text. and healing will come soon.'²² O.Ḥ. § 287. He is told to consider his affairs whether he lent to or deposited [aught] with others,²³Or whether he wishes to leave instructions for his children — A.H. or vice versa, and that he should not fear death on account of this.²⁴T.H. citing Sem. However, this is not found in cur. edd. of Sem. The source of this ruling is Sem. de R. Ḥiyya(H) ibid. One must not visit those suffering with bowel diseases,²⁵Ned. 41a, on account of embarrassment, since the invalid has to move his bowels frequently. or with eye diseases, or from headaches.²⁶Ibid., on account of engaging in conversation which is injurious to people suffering from headaches. And likewise, whosoever is very sick²⁷Lit. ‘the world rests heavily upon him.’ and conversation is injurious to him must not be visited in his presence, but one may enter the outer chamber and ask and inquire regarding him, — whether it is necessary to sweep or sprinkle the ground before him²⁸Ibid., 40a. or anything similar to this, and hear his suffering and and pray for him. One must visit the sick of the Gentiles in the interests of peace.²⁹Git. 61a. Cf. W.G. a.l. [In the case of] those suffering with bowel diseases,—[the law is that] the man must not attend upon the woman, but the woman may attend upon the man.³⁰In such cases attendance by a man upon a wowan leads to obscene thoughts and licentiousness. In the reverse case the passion is not as strong and hence permissible. Thus D.M. TaZ and ShaK make a distinction between diseases, where the male is more prone to be tempted, and other illnesses, where this is not applicable. Cf. supra § 195, 18 and infra § 352, 3. also Resp. N.B., E.H. s. 69. Gloss: Some say that whosoever has a sick person in his home should go to the Sage of the city in order that he pray for him;³¹B.B. 116a and N.Yos. a.l. — G. and likewise is it the accepted practice to recite blessings [on behalf of] sick persons, in the Synagogues,³²On days when the Torah is read. O.Ḥ. § 54, 2; § 288, Blessings may be recited on behalf of sick people even if the latter do not reside in the same city — P.Tesh. No blessing is recited on behalf of an excommunicant — Sefer Ḥasidim. [viz.,] to give them an [additional] new name, for a change of name causes an evil decree passed upon man to be cancelled.³³R.H. 16b. [The precept of] comforting mourners takes precedence over visiting the sick.³⁴Kol Bo — G. also Yad, Ebel XIV, 7. Since the precept of comforting mourners is a charitable act both on behalf of the living and the dead.

These are the deeds that yield immediate fruit in This World and continue to yield fruit in the World to Come: honoring parents; doing deeds of lovingkindness; arriving the house of study early--morning and evening; providing hospitality; visiting the sick; helping the needy bride; attending to the dead; probing the meaning of prayer; making peace between one person and another, and between husband and wife. And the study of Torah outweighs them all.

It is a rabbinic positive precept to visit the sick, comfort the mourners, escort the dead, dower the bride, accompany the [departing] guests — — as well as to cheer the bride and the groom, and to assist them in whatever they need. Even though all these precepts are of rabbinic origin, they are implied in the biblical verse: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18); that is, whatever you would have others do to you, do to your brothers in Torah and precepts.