The rabbis understood the importance of visiting the sick, bikur holim, to permit it even on Shabbat. They taught that when a person visits the sick he relieves 1/60 of the illness. Today’s daf TB Shabbat 12 discusses several aspects of this mitzvah, for example what a person should say to the patient, may he pray for that person in any language or must it be in Hebrew, and how should a person visit the sick.
“Rabbi Yehuda says that it is appropriate to say: May the Omnipresent have compassion upon you and upon all the sick people of Israel. Rabbi Yosei says that it is appropriate to say: May the Omnipresent have compassion upon you among the sick people of Israel, thereby including this sick person within the community of Israel. When Shevna of Jerusalem would visit a sick person on Shabbat, upon entering, he would say shalom. And when he exited he would say: It is Shabbat when one is prohibited to cry out, and healing is soon to come, and His compassion is abundant, and rest on Shabbat in peace. The Gemara asks: In accordance with whose opinion is the halakha that Rabbi Hanina said: One who has a sick person in his house must include him among the sick people of Israel in his prayer? In accordance with whose opinion? In accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei.
“Rabba bar bar Hana said: When we would follow Rabbi Elazar to inquire about the health of a sick person; sometimes he would say in Hebrew: May the Omnipresent remember you for peace, and sometimes he would say to him in Aramaic: May the all-Merciful remember you for peace. He would say it in Aramaic when the sick person did not understand Hebrew (Rav Elazar Moshe Horovitz). The Gemara asks: How did he do this, pray in Aramaic? Didn’t Rav Yehuda say: A person should never request that his needs be met in the Aramaic language? And, similarly, Rabbi Yohanan said: Anyone who requests that his needs be met in the Aramaic language, the ministering angels do not attend to him to bring his prayer before God, as the ministering angels are not familiar with the Aramaic language, but only with the sacred tongue, Hebrew, exclusively. The Gemara responds: A sick person is different. He does not need the angels to bring his prayer before God because the Divine Presence is with him.
“As Rav Anan said that Rav said: From where is it derived that the Divine Presence cares for and aids the sick person? As it is stated: “God will support him on the bed of illness” (Psalms 41:4). The Gemara comments: That was also taught in a baraita: One who enters to visit the sick person should sit neither on the bed nor on a chair; rather, he should wrap himself in his prayer shawl with trepidation and awe, and sit before the sick person below him, as the Divine Presence is above the head of the sick person, as it is stated: “God will support him on the bed of illness,” and he must treat the Divine Presence with deference. On a similar note, Rava said that Ravin said: From where is it derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, feeds the sick person during his illness? As it is stated: “God will support him on the bed of illness.” (Sefaria.org translation)
We live in extra-ordinary times. To slow the spread of the coronavirus we must self-isolate ourselves as best we can, avoid crowds, and if we need to go out, keep a six foot distance between other people. That really limits our ability to observe the mitzvah of bikur holim, visiting the sick. Nevertheless, we can still call, write email or snail mail, and pray for them. I offer this prayer to you as an example of what you may daven.
We pray for those who are affected by illness, anguish and pain. Heal them.
Grant courage to those whose bodies, holy proof of Your creative goodness, are violated by the pain of illness. Encourage them.
Grant strength and compassion to families and friends who give their loving care and support and help to overcome despair. Strengthen them.
Grant wisdom to those who probe the deepest complexities of Your world as they labor in the search for treatment and cures. Inspire them.
Grant clarity of vision and strength of purpose to the leaders of our institutions and our government. May they be moved to act with justice and compassion and find the courage to overcome fear and hatred. Guide them.
Grant insight to us, that we may understand that whenever death comes, we must accept it - but that before it comes, we must resist it, by prolonging life and making our life worthy as long as it is lived.
Bless us and heal us all. (Amen)
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