Bikur Cholim (Hebrew: ביקור חולים‎; "visiting the sick") refers to the mitzvah, or Jewish religious commandment, to visit and extend aid to the sick. This article is about commandments in Judaism For the Jewish rite of passage see Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah ( Hebrew: מצוה ^[1] It is considered an aspect of gemilut chasadim (benevolence, selflessness, loving-kindness). Altruism is selfless concern for the welfare of others It is a traditional Virtue in many cultures and central to many religious traditions Loving-kindness (or "lovingkindness" is a term coined by Myles Coverdale for his Coverdale Bible of 1535[http//www ^[2] It is traditional to recite prayers for healing, such as the Mi Shebeirach prayer in the synagogue, and Psalms (especially Psalm 119) on behalf of the sick. Psalm 119 ( Greek numbering Psalm 118) is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. ^[3] Bikur cholim societies exist in Jewish communities around the world. The earliest Bikur cholim society on record dates back to the Middle Ages. ^[4]

Contents 1 History 2 Organizations and Hospitals 3 See also 4 References

History

The roots of Bikur cholim can be traced back to the Torah, when God visits Abraham after his circumcision (Genesis 18:1). term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to For information about Yahweh see God in Abrahamic religions, which provides useful links Abraham ( Ashkenazi   Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: Male circumcision is the removal of some or all of the Foreskin (prepuce from the Penis.

Bikur cholim is mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud several times, in Tractate Nedarim 39a, 39b, and 40a. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history A tract is a literary work, and in current usage usually Religious in nature Nashim ("Women" or "Wives" is the third order of the Mishnah (also of the Tosefta and Talmud) containing the laws related to women Nedarim 39a and 39b state that "[One must visit] even a hundred times a day" and that "He who visits a person who is ill takes away a sixtieth of his pain. " Nedarim 40a says that "anyone who visits the sick causes him to live and anyone who does not visit the sick causes him to die"; it also states that those who visit the sick are spared from the punishments of Gehenna (hell) and that God sustains the sick, citing the Book of Psalms Chapter 31. for the Polish film see Gehenna (film See also Jewish eschatology Gehennam (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום is Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included ^[5]. According to the Talmud, visits should not be very early or late in the day, and one should not stay too long. Relatives and friends are urged to visit as soon as possible. It is advised that a sick person not be informed of the death of a relative or friend lest it cause more pain. Suffering, or pain, is an individual's basic Affective experience of unpleasantness and aversion associated with harm or threat of harm ^[6][7]

Visiting the ill during Shabbat, often after morning services, is a common practice; the House of Shammai opposed this but the House of Hillel viewed this as a mitzvah and the view of Hillel became part of halakha. Shabbat or Shabbos ( Hebrew: שַׁבָּת, shabbāt, shabbes, "rest/inactivity" is the Weekly Sabbath Jewish services ( Hebrew: תפלה, tefillah; plural תפלות, tefillos or tefillot; Yinglish: davening The House of Shammai (or Beit Shammai, beit is Hebrew for house was the school of thought of Judaism founded by Shammai, a Jewish scholar of The House of Hillel (בית הלל Beit Hillel) also known as the Academy of Hillel, founded by the famed Hillel the Elder, is a school of Jewish Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law Additionally, is also permissible to travel on Shabbat if a close relative falls ill. ^[8]

Organizations and Hospitals

• Bikur Cholim, also known as the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, is a nonprofit organization in Greater Los Angeles and California, providing over 30 life-saving services and social support programs for children, adults, and families suffering from serious and life-threatening illness. ^[9] Its programs and services include physician referrals, help with treatment costs, free loan (g’mach) of medical equipment, visitation, meals, Blood & Bone Marrow program, Direct Donor Blood, Bikur Cholim House, the Living Room, Hearts of Angels Volunteers, Shabbox & Shabbos Closets, Kids Helping Kids, and a multi-media library. The president and founder of the organization is Rabbi Hershy Ten. Working with such hospitals as Childrens Hospital, St. Vincent, Cedars-Sinai, Century City, UCLA, Saint Johns Health Center, and Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, Bikur Cholim opens doors to world-renowned physicians and medical centers. ^[10]

• Bikur Cholim Hospital was established in 1867 in the Old City of Jerusalem. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the After World War I, the hospital moved to its current premises on Strauss Street in Jerusalem. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the

See also

• Altruism
• Yad Sarah
• Hadassah
• Aryeh Levin

References

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