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Contact Us:
(212) 399-2685 x212

Getting Started...

Bikur cholim is a mitzvah which offers many ways to participate. You may start informally, cultivating opportunities to be mindful and diligent with those in your circle of family, friends, and neighbors. Visiting can be as easy as picking up a telephone and calling a homebound senior or knocking on a neighbor’s door offering to shop.

When you wish to expand your efforts into community borders, contact a bikur cholim group in your community — often these are affiliated with synagogues and JCC's. (Or contact us for assistance in locating local groups.) To start a new group, see our Organizing a Group section.

If you are able to be in New York City in November, it may be helpful to come to the Bikur Cholim Coordinating Council Annual Conference to gain inspiration and inspire others.

The first step:

Remember:"Think big, start small..." Endeavors of all sizes count, their impact can not be quantified. Small gestures can make a difference. Don’t under estimate their impact.

What if I can’t visit/I’m afraid of hospitals?

If for whatever reason you are not able to visit people, there are many more opportunities to play a role in bikur cholim other than going to the hospital. For example, you can contribute by making phone calls to those who are isolated, posting articles about bikur cholim news in the synagogue bulletin, helping out with shopping, and serving as a catalyst for bikur cholim awareness and activity in your community. There is something for all of us to get involved with.

I’m not sure what to say when I visit someone?

The purpose of a bikur cholim visit is to let the person know that they are remembered. We do this with our presence — by showing up! Whether it is a face to face or a phone visit. (See also Tips for Visitors)

What if the person does not want a visit?
(Or "The Successful Non-Visit!")

There are two parts to a successful visit: The visitor’s positive intention to be present with the visited, and the visited’s willingness to be visited. Asking someone if they would like a visit is especially meaningful. Firstly, it restores control to the visited. Secondly, the ‘mere’ asking conveys respect and dignity to the visited. This can help to counterbalance feelings of dependency and feeling a lack of control. It is better for the visited to have the option to refuse, which puts the power in their hands. If the person does not want a visit, you can try again later.

©2010 Rabbi Isaac N. Trainin Bikur Cholim Coordinating Council
120 West 57th Street · New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 399-2685 x212 · Fax: (212) 399-2475 ·
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