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Visiting the Sick: Difference between revisions
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# The mitzvah applies even when the sick person is in the hospital and is taken care of by doctors and nurses. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim, pg 41) explaining that certainly there is a purpose to encourage and pray for the sick person and it's included in Ahavta LeReacha Kamocha. </ref> | # The mitzvah applies even when the sick person is in the hospital and is taken care of by doctors and nurses. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim, pg 41) explaining that certainly there is a purpose to encourage and pray for the sick person and it's included in Ahavta LeReacha Kamocha. </ref> | ||
# No beracha is recited over this mitzva. <ref> Mourning in Halacha 1:4, Yalkut Yosef YD chelek 7 1:1. see both of those sources for reasons. </ref> | # No beracha is recited over this mitzva. <ref> Mourning in Halacha 1:4, Yalkut Yosef YD chelek 7 1:1. see both of those sources for reasons. </ref> | ||
# A person should not enter the room of a sick person suddenly, lest he walk in | |||
on the sick person in an undignified psituation. </ref> Mourning in Halachah 1:34 </ref> | |||
==How often== | ==How often== | ||
# There is no maximum measure to this mitzvah and the one who visits the sick more often is praiseworthy, even multiple times in one day, as long as it isn’t a burden on the sick person. <Ref>Kitzur S”A 193:1, Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim pg 52), S"A YD 335:2, Rambam Hilchot Avel 14:4 </ref> | # There is no maximum measure to this mitzvah and the one who visits the sick more often is praiseworthy, even multiple times in one day, as long as it isn’t a burden on the sick person. <Ref>Kitzur S”A 193:1, Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim pg 52), S"A YD 335:2, Rambam Hilchot Avel 14:4 </ref> | ||
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# When one prays for a sick person on [[Shabbat]] one should say "שבת היא מלזוק ורפואה קרובה לבוא ורחמיו מרובין ושבתו בשלום". | # When one prays for a sick person on [[Shabbat]] one should say "שבת היא מלזוק ורפואה קרובה לבוא ורחמיו מרובין ושבתו בשלום". | ||
<ref>Kitzur S"A 193:4, Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221) </ref> | <ref>Kitzur S"A 193:4, Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221) </ref> | ||
# If one is unable to visit he should pray for the sick from wherever he is, even though ideal is to pray next to the sick. <ref>Mourning in Halacha 1:35, Yalkut Yosef YD chelek 7 1:2 and footnote there. </ref> | |||
==When to visit== | ==When to visit== | ||
# One should avoid visiting the sick during the first or last three (halachic) hours of the day. <Ref>Kitzur S”A 193:3, S"A YD 335:4, Rambam Hilchot Avel 14:5 based on gemara in Nedarim 40A. S"A YD 335:4 says the reason for this is because during the first three hours of the day the sickness is weaker and the visitor will not be sufficiently stirred to pray for mercy on the sick's behalf, and during the last three hours of the day the sickness is strongest and the visitor will give up on praying on the sick's behalf. Rambam in Hilchot Avel 14:5 says the reason is because this is the time that the needs of the sick person are being taken care of. Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221) writes that these hours must be Shaot Zmaniot otherwise there are some days where one can’t visit the sick. </ref>However, if that is the only time one is able to visit the sick one should do it then rather then not visit at all. <Ref>Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221). Aruch HaShulchan YD 335:8 writes that the minhag isn't strict about this because chazal didn't forbid visiting during these times rather chazal were giving advise when it's best to visit. Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim pg 44) and Mourning in Halacha 1:7 also write that today we aren't concerned about only visiting during these times. See Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer (Ramat Rachel 12), Shalmat Chaim (411). </ref> | # One should avoid visiting the sick during the first or last three (halachic) hours of the day. <Ref>Kitzur S”A 193:3, S"A YD 335:4, Rambam Hilchot Avel 14:5 based on gemara in Nedarim 40A. S"A YD 335:4 says the reason for this is because during the first three hours of the day the sickness is weaker and the visitor will not be sufficiently stirred to pray for mercy on the sick's behalf, and during the last three hours of the day the sickness is strongest and the visitor will give up on praying on the sick's behalf. Rambam in Hilchot Avel 14:5 says the reason is because this is the time that the needs of the sick person are being taken care of. Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221) writes that these hours must be Shaot Zmaniot otherwise there are some days where one can’t visit the sick. </ref>However, if that is the only time one is able to visit the sick one should do it then rather then not visit at all. <Ref>Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221). Aruch HaShulchan YD 335:8 writes that the minhag isn't strict about this because chazal didn't forbid visiting during these times rather chazal were giving advise when it's best to visit. Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim pg 44) and Mourning in Halacha 1:7 also write that today we aren't concerned about only visiting during these times. See Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer (Ramat Rachel 12), Shalmat Chaim (411). </ref> | ||
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* Sh"t Igrot Moshe YD 1:223 writes that if one can visit in person one must do so, however, if one can't visit then one must call the sick person on the phone. Sh"t Yachave Daat 3:89 agrees. Similarly, Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim pg 43) writes one doesn't fulfill the complete mitzvah by calling the sick person on the phone, rather one should visit in person. However, if one can't visit then it's good to call or write a letter to strength and encourage him. | * Sh"t Igrot Moshe YD 1:223 writes that if one can visit in person one must do so, however, if one can't visit then one must call the sick person on the phone. Sh"t Yachave Daat 3:89 agrees. Similarly, Yalkut Yosef (Bikur Cholim pg 43) writes one doesn't fulfill the complete mitzvah by calling the sick person on the phone, rather one should visit in person. However, if one can't visit then it's good to call or write a letter to strength and encourage him. | ||
* Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer (Ramat Rachel 8:6) writes that someone who can't visit the sick or a talmid chacham who is learning torah can fulfill his mitzvah partially by calling on the phone. He specifies that in regards to the sick person's needs, if the sick person is in the hospital this isn't a concern, speaking to the sick person can be done over the phone, and praying for him can be done anywhere, yet, it's preferable to pray in front of the sick person. Sh"t Chelkat Yacov YD 188 writes that one doesn't fulfill his primary mitzvah by calling on the phone. | * Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer (Ramat Rachel 8:6) writes that someone who can't visit the sick or a talmid chacham who is learning torah can fulfill his mitzvah partially by calling on the phone. He specifies that in regards to the sick person's needs, if the sick person is in the hospital this isn't a concern, speaking to the sick person can be done over the phone, and praying for him can be done anywhere, yet, it's preferable to pray in front of the sick person. Sh"t Chelkat Yacov YD 188 writes that one doesn't fulfill his primary mitzvah by calling on the phone. | ||
* Minchat Yitzchak 2:84 also seems to say that if one can't fulfill the mitzvah in person one should call on the phone. In conclusion he writes that before calling one should first speak to the sick person a few times and then after one is familiar with his situation one may call on the phone. [Interestingly Minchat Yitzchak 2:84(10) he raises of fulfilling the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim through a video conference (such as Skype) and seems to say that it would be better than a phone call.]. </ref> | * Minchat Yitzchak 2:84 also seems to say that if one can't fulfill the mitzvah in person one should call on the phone. In conclusion he writes that before calling one should first speak to the sick person a few times and then after one is familiar with his situation one may call on the phone. [Interestingly Minchat Yitzchak 2:84(10) he raises of fulfilling the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim through a video conference (such as Skype) and seems to say that it would be better than a phone call.]. | ||
see Mourning in Halacha 1:35, Yalkut Yosef YD chelek 7 1:2 for more sources. </ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
