Bikur cholim, visiting the sick, has been a time-honored mitzvah ever since Hashem demonstrated it by visiting Avraham Avinu after his b’ris. We mention this mitzvah every day amongst the mitzvos which “have no limit.” We learn in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 335 that bikur cholim is not simply visiting the ill. One should also look after the needs of the ill, both spiritual, to daven for them, and physical, to see that they are provided for, so that their sole concern should be to concentrate on bettering their health. The more people will look after them, the more the ill will feel loved, wanted, and uplifted—the more compelled they will feel to get healthier.
The Gemara (Nedarim 39b) tells us that one who visits the sick removes 1/60th of their sickness. Besides the esoteric meaning, we can well appreciate it in its simple meaning. The Jewish People, descendants of Avraham Avinu, the pillar of chesed, are exemplary in this mitzvah. Not only by the many bikur cholim community organizations and the many hospital volunteers, but each one of us would give our utmost to help provide for our brothers and sisters in any way possible.
Some of Jewish music’s leading personalities have come together to offer comfort, hope, and encouragement to a special Yid in the Five Towns community. Moishie Reisman, a popular young man, son of Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Reisman of Agudas Yisroel of Long Island, has been ill lately. He has many friends who look after him. Mr. Adrian Garbacz realized that Moishie likes music and likes to sing. He organized a kumsitz this past motzaei Shabbos. Eitan Katz, R’ Kuppy Elbogen, Michoel Pruzansky, and others came to sing. Yitzy Pretter, Eli Rubin, Pinky Freidman, Yitzie Gross, Shlomo Reich, and Shua Fogel provided the music.
Moishie has long been a music aficionado and over the years has forged a particularly close relationship with popular performer Shloime Dachs. Mr. Avi Krasnow of Chap-a-Nosh caterers, where Moishie works, knows that Moishie adores and emulates Shloime. Avi invited Shloime and his son Dovid to come to liven up Moishie upon his recent return from the hospital. Shloime came three times in as many days and was joined each time by visitors who by their mere presence and participation brought new life to Moishie. Moishie got up spontaneously, wrapped one arm around Shloime and with his second held the mike. He sang and danced with Shloime, a fulfillment of his dream. Greater than that, the event brought new life to him. The event was well attended by community rabbis, members of the kehillah, and neighbors and friends.
“It’s a difficult situation and with Hashem’s help, he will have a complete refuah sheleimah,” said Shloime Dachs. He added, “The feeling at the kumsitz was great simcha, inspiration, emunah, and bitachon. Mi k’amcha Yisrael! Moishie gave me more chizuk than I gave him.”
The emotions of all present were palpable as everyone felt they were part of this great mitzvah to help rejuvenate a fellow Jew. It’s true that bikur cholim provides for the ill, but many expressed that in this case, they received more than they gave.
We wish him a speedy recovery and ask that everyone continue to daven for Yisroel Moshe ben Chasya Miriam.