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Visiting the Sick: Difference between revisions
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# If one prays in front of the sick person one may pray in any language, however, if one doesn't pray in front of the sick person should only pray in Hebrew. <ref> S"A Y"D 335:5, Aruch Hashulchan Y"D 335:9 </ref> In the prayer one should include the sick person together with all Jews who are sick saying "המקום ירחם עליך בתוך חולי ישראל" (Hashem should have mercy on you amongst the sick of Israel). <ref>Kitzur S"A 193:4, Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221) </ref> | # If one prays in front of the sick person one may pray in any language, however, if one doesn't pray in front of the sick person should only pray in Hebrew. <ref> S"A Y"D 335:5, Aruch Hashulchan Y"D 335:9 </ref> In the prayer one should include the sick person together with all Jews who are sick saying "המקום ירחם עליך בתוך חולי ישראל" (Hashem should have mercy on you amongst the sick of Israel). <ref>Kitzur S"A 193:4, Chafetz Chaim in Ahavat Chesed (section 3, chapter 3, pg 221) </ref> | ||
# 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> | # 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> | ||
# If the sick is terminally ill and suffering, some poskim permit praying for an end to their suffering <ref> Aruch Hashulchan YD 335:3, Iggerot Moshe CM 2:74 based on a Ran in Nedarim 40a which explains that the very least we can do for someone suffering who has no chance of recovery to be freed of his suffering through death. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethics 3:1062 suggests the following pray: "Please God, with the power of Your great mercy, and with Your great benevolence, may it be Your will to take the soul of so-and-so out from its closed prison to relieve him from his suffering, and may his soul return to the God who gave it to Him". Rav Yisrael Meir Lau in the Torah Sh'baal Peh Journal volume 25 page 63 (published in 1984) says that relatives should never pray for this at it may seem that they simply want to free themselves of the care-taking responsibilities. Beer Moshe 8:239:4 says that one should just pray for Hashem to treat them mercifully without specifically mentioning death. </ref> while others forbid it. <ref> Tzitz Eliezer 9:47. </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> | ||
