- Q. If one visits a person in a hospital and sees that he is not complying with the basic mitzvos he usually keeps as Tefilin, davening and even saying Shema, and when asked why he replies that the room is dirty by other patients and he himself is also unclean.
Yet, as we know, there are ways to comply with this and other mitzvos in such situations. Is one obliged to call Bikur Cholim or another trained group to intervene and help him? Should one be concerned that the choleh may feel insulted and disrespected?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller”s Shlit”a opinion is that an important part of the great Mitzva of Bikur Cholim is having the afflicted comply with all possible mitzvos, when it does not place him in danger on his sickness.
Indeed the Sheloh Hakodosh explains, (vol. 2, Maseches Pesachim, pg. 24.), that great common sense and wisdom is needed to realize what mitzvos, and how and when the ill can comply with them.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a
Important Numbers
