Bikur Cholim: Visiting The Sick

3. Nedarim 39B - Oaths

It was taught: There is no measure for visiting the sick. What is meant by, 'there is no measure for visiting the sick?'

R. Joseph thought to explain it: its reward is unlimited.

Said Abaye to him: Is there a definite measure of reward for any precept?

But we learnt: Be as heedful of a light precept as of a serious one, for thou knowest not the grant of reward for precepts?

But Abaye explained it: Even a great person must visit a humble one.

Raba said: [One must visit] even a hundred times a day. R. Abba son of R. Hanina said: He who visits an invalid takes away a sixtieth of his pain. Said they to him: If so, let sixty people visit him and restore him to health?

4. Nedarim 40A

R. Helbo is sick. But none visited him. He rebuked them [sc. the scholars], saying, 'Did it not once happen that one of R. Akiba's disciples fell sick, and the Sages did not visit him?

So R. Akiba himself entered [his house] to visit him, and because they swept and sprinkled the ground before him, he recovered. 'My master,' said he, 'you have revived me!' [Straightway] R. Akiba went forth and lectured: He who does not visit the sick is like a shedder of blood.

5. Ramban - Nachmanides:Physician and Rabbi 1194

• hysical assistance: a visitor should try to help in attending to the sick persons physical needs

• Spiritual assistance: a visitor should pray to G-d on behalf of the sick person

• Emotional assistance: a visitor should be friendly to a sick person, providing him with a feeling of camaraderie