Vayera

 

This week’s parsha, Vayera, opens with the words

 

Vayera elav Ado-nai b’elyonei Mamre v’hu yoshev petach ha-ohel k’khom hayom

The Lord appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre, he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot

 

From these few words, the Rabbis derived the mitzvah of bikur cholim, visiting the sick, one of the most meaningful mitzvot that we have. Avraham is resting at the entrance to his tent, recovering from the pain of his circumcision at the end of last week’s parsha. God appears to him, comforting him in his time of pain. Usually God appears when He has a message to give, but this time God merely brings His presence.

 

When we visit those who are sick, we emulate God’s behavior and walk in His ways. When God appears to Avraham, he does not cure him of his pain, and he does not even say a word to him. It is God’s presence alone that is healing. From this we learn that it is not so important what we say when we visit someone who is sick, but merely that we are present with them. The role of a visitor is not to fix or to cure, but to bring caring and empathy, and to affirm the person’s humanity at a time they may be feeling isolated or depressed.

 

It is said in the Talmud that visiting one who is sick removes 1/60 of their pain. One commentator asks, in that case could 60 visitors completely cure them? There are a variety of answers but another commentator answers that 60 visitors could indeed heal the person completely, if each one of them loved the person as themselves. While we know rationally that this is not how sickness and health ultimately work, it is an image that demonstrates the powerful effect a visit can have on a person who is sick. It shows us the approach we should have as a visitor - that we should have a loving intention and value the person as we do ourselves.

 

While bikur cholim is one of the most challenging mitzvot, it is one that is truly Godly.