NEW BIKKUR CHOLIM COMMITTEE INAUGURATED
There is holiness when we relieve suffering, visit the sick and comfort the bereaved. There is holiness when we remember the lonely and the neglected, or bring cheer to a dark corner. — Siddur Hadash Beth El’s Social Action Committee, in partnership with our clergy, has embarked on a new and ambitious undertaking.
“As a large congregation, one of our challenges is to make a large place feel like a shul, to connect people and to let people know that we’re here for one another,” noted Rabbi Schwartz. To help address this challenge, the new Social Action sub-committee, Bikkur Cholim, under the chairmanship of Merle Eiss and Jeanette Davis has been formed.
The Jewish tradition of bikkur cholim, which is Hebrew for “visiting the sick”, calls on us to support the needs of those who are ill or isolated. The act of bikkur cholim is a mitzvah — a moral and spiritual obligation incumbent upon all Jews to perform. Talmudic sources say that the idea of bikkur cholim dates back to when Abraham was visited by angels during his recovery from circumcision.
Robert Slatkin, co-chair of the Social Action Committee commented, “We are creating a Bikkur Cholim program that we believe will have a positive impact on our congregation by extending comfort and support to our members in need of help.”
For several years, the Caring Committee has stayed in touch with our most senior members via regular phone calls on major holidays and birthdays. Now, the Bikkur Cholim volunteers will focus on three other areas: visiting our members who are sitting shiva with follow-up calls at the conclusion of shiloshim; visiting our members who are homebound or in assisted living and nursing homes; and, offering transportation to services, synagogue programs, and doctors’ appointments.
The genesis of the Bikkur Cholim initiative started with an idea from Rabbi Loeb z”l. According to Betty Zlotowitz, co-chair of the Social Action Committee, several years ago Rabbi Loeb suggested that the Social Actioncommittee act as a liaison between the synagogue and those who can no longer make it to congregational programming and services. He wanted to see the committee maintain a lifeline connection with our members through visits, phone calls and help with transportation needs. Rabbi Loeb z”l wanted Beth El to be known as a caring congregation. With your help, we are now able to fulfill his vision.
If you know someone in need of any of these services or if you or someone you know would like to volunteer time, please contact Debbie Caplan at Debbie@bethelbalto.com or 410-484-0411. (Training will be available for anyone interested in visiting the homebound or making shiva calls.)