Q. Where is the first source for the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim?
God Visits Avraham
The first encounter with Bikur Cholim in Jewish tradition is actually with God Himself! The Torah relates (Bereishit/Genesis 18:1) how God appeared to Avraham Avinu (our father Abraham) after his Brit Milah (circumcision). The Talmud (Sotah 14a) explains that the purpose of this revelation was that God was (so-to-speak) visiting Avraham, who was recovering from his circumcision procedure.
The Divine Presence Rests on the Sick
The Talmud (Nedarim 40a) tells us that it was not just Avraham, rather every sick patient merits having the Shechinah (Divine Presence) of God dwelling over them!
Emulating God Through Kindness
When visiting the sick, one is emulating the ways of God. Kindness and compassion are the premise for His Divine conduct. (God created the universe in order that He may benefit its inhabitants by bestowing on them eternal goodness after their adherence to His mitzvot.)
Bikur Cholim in Jewish tradition is an expression of Divine characteristics. “Pachad Yitzchak” (Igrot U’ketavim 31) explains that the Hebrew term “Bikur Cholim,” in its literal sense, means, “paying attention to the (needs of) the sick.” It is not only about the physical visit, but also about truly caring for the person in pain. Leaving our own self to focus on someone else personifies a Godly personality!
The following story will further demonstrate this point:
Rabbi Chai Yitzchak Twersky (1931-2023) was the Rebbe (Chasidic Master) of Rachmastrivka. His brilliance and piety inspired the masses who would enter his home seeking his guidance and blessings. A man recalled, “I once entered the room of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe and requested a blessing on behalf of an acquaintance who was diagnosed with a severe illness. When the rebbe heard my request, he burst into tears. He exclaimed “Oy! Does he have a family? Does he have children?” He really cared…
< Bikur Cholim Part 2: Can I Fulfill the Mitzvah by Phone? (And How Not to Do Bikur Cholim)
By Rabbi Mayer Smith
