Bikkur Cholim - Visiting the Sick

R. Hama son of R. Hanina further said: What means the text: "You shall walk after God" (Deuteronomy 13)? Is it, then, possible for a human being to walk after God; for has it not been said: "For God is a devouring fire" (Deuteronomy 4)? But [the meaning is] to walk after the attributes of the Holy One. Just as God clothes the naked, as it says, "And God made garments of skins for Adam and his wife, and clothed them" (Genesis 3), so do you also clothe the naked.

The Holy One, blessed be God, visited the sick, for it is written: "And God appeared
to him by the oaks of Mamre" (Genesis 18), so do you also visit the sick. The Holy
One, blessed be God, comforted mourners, for it is written: "And it came to pass
after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son" (Genesis 25), so do you also comfort mourners. The Holy one, blessed be God, buried the dead, for it is
written: "And God buried him in the valley" (Deuteronomy 34), so do you also bury the dead. [Soncino translation]

R. Joshua b. Levi met Elijah standing by the entrance of R. Simeon b. Yohai's tomb. He asked him: “Have I a portion in the world to come?” He replied, “If this Master desires it.” R. Joshua b. Levi said, “I saw two, but heard the oice of a third.” He then asked him, “When will the Messiah come?” “Go and ask him himself,” was his reply. “Where is he sitting?” “At the entrance.” “And by what sign may I recognize him?” “He is sitting among the poor lepers: all of them untie
[them] all at once, and re-bandage them together, whereas he unties and re-bandages each separately, [before treating the next], thinking, should I be wanted, [it being time for my appearance as the Messiah] I must not be delayed [through having to bandage a number of sores].” So he went to him and greeted him, saying, “Peace upon you Master and Teacher.” “Peace upon you, O son of Levi,” he replied. “When will you come, Master?” he asked. “Today,” was his answer. On his returning to Elijah, the latter inquired, “What did he say to you?” “Peace upon you, O son of Levi,” he answered. Thereupon he (Elijah) observed, “He thereby assured you and your father of (a portion in) the world to come.” “He spoke falsely to me,” he rejoined, “stating that he would come today, but has not.” He (Elijah) answered him: “This is what he said to you. Today if you will hear his voice.” [Soncino translation]

We don’t visit the sick person in the first three hours of the day, since all sick people have their illnesses eased in the morning and the visitor will not be moved to pray [for the sick person]; and not in the last three hours of the day, since then the sickness becomes more severe and the visitor will despair of praying for the sick person. (Anyone who visits and does not pray for the sick person has not fulfilled the commandment.) [AJWS translation]

R. Chiya b. Abba fell ill and R. Johanan went in to visit him. He said to him: Are your sufferings welcome to you? He replied: Neither they nor their reward. He said to him: Give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he raised him. R. Johanan once fell ill and R. Hanina went in to visit him. He said to him: Are your sufferings welcome to you? He replied: Neither they nor their reward. He said to him: Give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he raised him. Why could not R. Johanan raise himself? — They replied: The prisoner cannot free himself from jail. R. Eleazar fell ill and R. Johanan went in to visit him. He noticed that he was lying in a dark room, and he bared his arm and light radiated from it. Thereupon he noticed that R. Eleazar was weeping, and he said to him: Why do you weep? Is it because you did not study enough Torah? Surely we learnt: The one who sacrifices much and the one who sacrifices little have the same merit, provided that the heart is directed to heaven. Is it perhaps lack of sustenance? Not everybody has the privilege to enjoy two tables. Is it perhaps because of [the lack of] children? This is the bone of my tenth son! — He replied to him: I am weeping on account of this beauty that is going to rot in the earth. He said to him: On that account you surely have a reason to weep; and they both wept. In the meanwhile he said to him: Are your sufferings welcome to you? — He replied: Neither they nor their reward. He said to him: Give me your hand, and he gave him his hand and he raised him. [Soncino translation]