Vayera 5782 - Bikkur Holim, Visiting the Sick
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Friday, October 22, 2021
When you or a loved one has been ill in the past, what has someone else done that has been helpful or meaningful to you?
Tomorrow morning, we will learn the Talmudic statement that hakhnasat orkhim (welcoming guests) is a greater act than welcoming the Shekhinah (the Divine Presence). Just a few sentences later, in the Talmud Bavli, Masekhet Shabbat, Rabbi Yehuda Bar Sheilah says that Rabbi Asi says that Rabbi Yohanan says that there are six matters a person enjoys the profit of in this world and continues to enjoy the principle in the World to Come: welcoming guests (as we mentioned last night), visiting the sick, attention to prayer, waking up early to study Torah, raising children to study Torah, and judging another person favorably (Shabbat 127a). In Parashat Vayera, while Avraham exemplifies the value of hakhnasat orkhim (welcoming guests), God Godself exemplifies the value of bikur holim (visiting the sick).
12th century Ashkenazi commentator Rashi teaches that in the opening lines of Parashat Vayera, when God appears (vayera) to Avraham, God appears in order to check up on a man who is healing from his recent circumcision. Later in the parashah, when Hagar and Yishmael are lost and thirsty in the desert, God hears the voice of the young man - וישמע אלהים את קול הנער - and sends an angel to help him and his mother (21:17). In visiting Avraham, Hagar, and Yishmael, God demonstrates the holy work of visiting those in need of healing. God checks up on Avraham, even though Avraham has not asked directly, and God listens to Yishmael crying for help, believing and acknowledging his need.
When we visit the ill, we can think back to deeds and words that were once helpful to us and our family. We start out by offering our presence, and then, according to our own abilities, we offer concrete tasks and resources - for example, childcare, meals, or transportation. For some who are sick or healing, the most helpful resource is a listening ear, and for some, the most helpful resource is a quiet moment alone. As 13th century French commentator Hizkuni remarks about attending to visitors, it can be helpful to suggest one or two ways you can help, as the other person may be too modest or embarrassed to ask for help herself. Hizkuni’s remarks are just as applicable to visiting the sick - it is hard to admit that help is needed, especially if that person has felt independent up until this point. Often, it’s hard for someone in pain to know what is needed until someone else offers a suggestion. As the Rabbis of the Talmud Bavli, Masekhet B’rakhot teach about bikur holim, “A prisoner cannot free himself from prison” (5b) - a person in pain often needs others to hold her hand and help lift her up, to both help her discover what she needs and to bring her those needs. And when that person’s needs require ample time and emotion, her caregivers need extra attention and support, as well.
As the Jewish tradition places such a high value on bikur holim, this synagogue is a wonderful resource in helping with the healing process. If you know that someone is ill or if you are preparing for a medical procedure, please let us know, so that we can practice that mitzvah of bikur holim on your behalf and so that we can keep you in our prayers, on our Mi Shebeirakh list. Please know that I, personally, will not share your or a loved one’s medical information with others in the community unless you ask me to do so. We cannot deal with illness or injury alone, and yet, we cannot recruit others to help us unless they know we are in pain. After all, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” אם אין אני לי, מי לי? We are a community who cares about our members, who wants to reach out to those in need.
As Rashi teaches at God’s visit to Yishmael, God hears the prayers of the sick before all others’ prayers. And yet, sometimes, when we are sick, it is hard to know what to say to God. We pray with and for those who are sick to add to their prayer, to encourage them to keep hoping towards help, and to let them know that they are not alone. By helping them with what they need, we amplify their voices in their cry to God, and ideally, we hasten the healing process. At the bare minimum, each week, in this community, we recite a Mi Shebeirakh, a prayer for healing, on behalf of all those in our community who need that extra attention…
May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, bring blessing and healing to all those who suffer illness within our congregational family. May the Holy One mercifully restore them to health and vigor, granting them spiritual and physical well-being, together with all others who are ill. And although Shabbat is a time to refrain from petitions, we yet hope and pray that healing is at hand. And let us say: Amen (Siddur Sim Shalom 144). Shabbat Shalom.
Sun, November 10 2024
9 Cheshvan 5785
Rabbi's Sermons
Bereshit - Genesis
- Parshat Bereshit: Oct. 26, 2019, October 1, 2021, October 2, 2021, October 25, 2024
- Parshat Noah: Nov. 2, 2019, October 8, 2021, Oct. 29, 2022, Nov. 1, 2024
- Parshat Lekh-L'kha: Nov. 9, 2019, Oct. 31, 2020, Oct. 31, 2020 - Part 2, Oct. 15, 2021
- Parshat Vayeira: Nov. 16, 2019, Nov. 7, 2020, Nov. 7, 2020 - Part 2, Oct. 22, 2021, Oct. 23, 2021
- Parshat Hayei Sara: Nov. 14, 2020, Oct. 30, 2021
- Parshat Toldot: Nov. 30, 2019, Nov. 21, 2020, Nov. 6, 2021
- Parshat Vayeitzei: Nov. 28, 2020, Nov. 13, 2021
- Parshat Vayishlah: Dec. 14, 2019 , Dec. 5, 2020, November 20, 2021
- Parshat Vayeisheiv: Dec. 12, 2020, Nov. 27, 2021
- Parshat Miketz: Dec. 4, 2021
- Parshat Vayigash: Jan. 4, 2020, Dec. 26, 2020, Dec. 11, 2021
- Parshat Vay'hi: Jan. 11, 2020, Jan. 2, 2021
Shemot-Exodus
- Parshat Sh'mot: Jan. 18, 2020, Jan. 18, 2020 - Part 2, Jan. 9, 2021
- Parshat Va'eira: Jan. 25, 2021
- Parshat Bo: Feb. 1, 2020, Jan. 23, 2021
- Parshat B'shalah: Jan. 30, 2021, Jan. 15, 2022, Feb. 3, 2023, Feb.4, 2023
- Parshat Yitro: Feb. 15, 2020, Feb. 6, 2021, Feb. 6, 2021, Feb. 21, 2022, Feb. 22, 2022
- Parshat Mishpatim: Feb. 22, 2020, Feb. 18, 2023
- Parshat T'rumah: Feb. 29, 2020, Feb. 29, 2020 - Part 2, Feb. 20, 2021, Feb. 4, 2022, Feb. 5, 2022, Feb. 25, 2023
- Parshat T'tzaveh: March 7, 2020, Feb. 27, 2021, Feb. 12, 2022, Feb. 11, 2022
- Parshat Ki Tisa: March 14, 2020, March 6, 2021, February 19, 2022
- Parshot Vayak'heil-P'kudei: March 21, 2020, March 13, 2021, February 26, 2022, March 18, 2023
Vayikra-Leviticus
- Parshat Vayikra: March 20, 2021, March 11, 2022, March 24, 2023, March 25, 2023
- Parshat Tzav: April 4, 2020, March 27, 2021, March 19, 2022
- Parshat Sh'mini: April 18, 2020
- Parshot Tazria-Metzora: April 25, 2020, April 17, 2021, April 2, 2022, April 20, 2024
- Parshot Achrei Mot-Kedoshim: May 2, 2020, April 24, 2021, May 7, 2022, May 3, 2024, May 10, 2024
- Emor: May 9, 2020, May 1, 2021, May 13, 2022, May 14, 2022, May 6, 2023
- Parshot B'har-B'hukotai: May 8, 2019, May 16, 2020, May 7, 2021, May 21, 2022, May 28, 2022, May 24, 2024, May 31, 2024
Bamidbar-Numbers
- Parshat Bamidbar: May 15, 2021, May 20, 2023, June 7, 2024
- Parshat Nasso: June 6, 2020, June 6, 2020 - Part 2, May 22, 2021, June 10, 2022, June 2, 2023, June 14, 2024
- Parshat B'ha'alotcha: June 13, 2020, June 13, 2020 - Part 2, June 9, 2023, June 10, 2023, June 21, 2024
- Parshat Sh'lach: June 20, 2020, June 20, 2020 - Part 2, June 5, 2021, June 28, 2024
- Parshat Korah: June 27, 2020, July 18, 2020, July 24, 2023, July 5, 2024
- Parshot Chukat-Balak: June 26, 2021, July 12, 2024, July 19, 2024
- Parshat Pinchas: July 11, 2020, July 11, 2020 - Part 2, July 2, 2021, July 3, 2021, July 22, 2022, July 23, 2022, July 26, 2024
- Parshot Matot-Masei: July 18, 2020, July 18, 2020 - Part 2, July 10, 2021, July 30, 2022, August 2, 2024
D'varim-Deuteronomy
- Parshat D'varim: July 25, 2020, July 25, 2020 - Part 2, July 17, 2021, August 6, 2022, August 9, 2024
- Parshat Va'et'hanan: Aug. 1, 2020, July 24, 2021, August 12, 2022, August 13, 2022, Aug. 16, 2024
- Parshat Eikev: Aug. 8, 2020, July 31, 2021, August 19, 2022, August 20, 2022
- Parshat Re'eh: August 7, 2021, August 30, 2024
- Parshat Shoftim: September 7, 2019, Aug. 22, 2020, August 14, 2021, August 14, 2021 - Part 2, September 3, 2022, September 6, 2024
- Parshat Ki Teitzei: Aug. 29, 2020, August 20, 2021, September 13, 2024
- Parshat Ki Tavo: Sept. 5, 2020, Sept. 5, 2020 - Part 2, August 28, 2021, Sept. 17, 2022, Sept. 20, 2024
- Parshot Nitzavim-Vayeilech: Sept. 11, 2021, September 24, 2022, Sept. 27,2024
- Parshat Ha'Azinu: Sept. 26, 2020, October 4, 2024
- Parshat Haberakhah
Rosh HaShanah: Sept. 19, 2020, Sept. 19, 2020 - Part 2, Sept. 19, 2020 - Part 3, Sept. 20, 2020, Sept. 7, 2021, Sept. 8, 2021, Sept. 9, 2021, Sept. 26, 2022, Oct 2, 2024
Yom Kippur: Sept. 28, 2020, Sept. 16, 2021, October 5, 2022
Sukkot: Oct. 3, 2020 , Sept. 20, 2021, Oct. 16,2024, Oct. 18, 2024
Passover: April 3, 2021, April 23, 2022, April 7, 2023, April 12, 2023 April 27, 2024
Rosh Hodesh: April 22, 2023
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