Questions tagged [choleh-sick]
For issues - in halacha and Jewish thought - about people who are not healthy.
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Tefillin and upset stomach
A person suffering from diarrhea is exempt from tefilin (SA OC 38, KSA Tefillin 10:23).
According to the lashon of the halacha, it is ok, or even obligatory, to wear them if one feels they can keep ...
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How much must one do to fulfill the mitzvah of bikur cholim?
In Ahavas Chesed Chelek Gimmel Perek Beis, the Chofetz Chaim discusses the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim and how people בעוונותינו הרבים העולם מקלין במצוה זו.
He also writes there that:
מצות ביקור חולים אין ...
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Are infirm people who can’t work obligated to give tzedakah
According to Halacha, are infirm people who can not work due to age, injury, illness etc. obligated to donate tzedakah or no? In this scenario, they are still mentally competent, although they can’t ...
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Does halacha strongly encourage the use of aggressive medical interventions?
It seems from what I've read in books: Jewish law encourages the uptake of aggressive medical interventions. Some examples include CPR, ventilators, chemotherapy, and intensive care unit (ICU) care.
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Theodical arguments from Bereshit Rabbah 69:5 - why are they rarely if ever used?
According to Bereshit Rabbah 69:5, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaacov prayed for aging, suffering and sickness, and before this, these conditions did not exist in the human experience.
The reasons are given ...
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Why does Hashem, Who is all-merciful, let children get cancer and suffer and die? [duplicate]
Even if there are reasons beyond human comprehension, the seemingly unjustifiable cruelty of letting/making children (and their families!) suffer makes Hashem “look bad” in some people’s eyes. It’s a ...
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Must people be informed they are terminally ill?
In Judaism, do doctors or other informed parties have a halachic obligation to tell a person he is terminally ill? Or to lie to him by telling him his affliction is treatable?
Of course, one can ...
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What would happen if the king was incapacitated?
If a Jewish king became incapacitated, for instance if he was in a coma, what would happen? Would a new king be appointed? Would nothing happen and the people would simply wait? Would the queen, or ...
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May sick Jews eat before Davening shacharit
According to Halacha is it permissible for sick Jews to eat before shacharit? Or is it prohibited just like it is normally?
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Does bikur cholim apply to a non-Jew?
Does visiting non-Jewish sick fulfill the mitzvah? Or is it only for Jews?
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May sick Jews wait less for meat and dairy
According to Halacha is there any leniency for sick Jews to wait less time between meat and dairy or no? Not in a situation of pikuach nefesh but just of general health and wellness?
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Is virtual presence considered Bikur cholim for the sick
Is looking at a sick person through zoom or another video camera service considered “visiting” then for the purposes of the mitzvah of Bikur cholim? Or no, does it have to be physical presence to ...
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Passively providing a method for a terminally ill person to commit suicide
I've read through various posts about suicide and assisted suicide, and I don't believe I've seen this question. If a person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or they are in horrific pain (...
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Yichud with a bedridden person
According to Halacha, can the prohibition of Yichud be suspended for taking care of someone who’s bedridden for health issues?
In general, Gilui Arayot can’t be violated for health or Pikuach Nefesh. ...
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Bikur cholim outside the techum
Is one allowed to violate the boundaries and walk beyond techum Shabbat on Shabbat for the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick)? Is there a responsa or Halacha brought down on this?
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Why does God allow a person to experience great suffering at an old age [duplicate]
I have watched elderly people with disease, suffering and experiencing moments of despair like Job did, eager to die because life has lost all it meaning to them. There is no longer any joy, or ...
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By what mechanism does the recital of Tehillim cause Hashem to heal someone who is ill?
It is customary to say Tehillim to ask Hashem to heal someone who is ill.
I want to know how this works.
One possible mechanism is that the Tehillim are the praises of Hashem which must come before a ...
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Set Time and Place to End Every Illness?
There is a concept I've heard quoted in the name of Chazal that before an illness enters a person's body, it has a designed set time, place, and messenger when it will leave. Where is this Chazal?
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Can someone fulfill his Shabbat meal obligation through his family if they eat a k'betza and he eats just a bit?
Suppose someone for health reasons can't eat a full k'betza of bread but can eat a crumb.
He wants to l'chatchila (or bedi'eved) fulfil the standard Shabbat obligation of seuda and lechem mishna for ...
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Any suggestions as to how we could connect the various Neurodiverse Labels (ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Autism) to the Torah?
The website below lists the various challenges and struggles of people with the various neurodiverse labels as well as the struggles it also lists their qualities and their strengths and the various ...
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Bava Kamma 60: getting sick because you fear getting sick
The Gemara in Bava Kamma (60b) says:
The Sages taught: If there is plague in the city, gather your feet, i.e., limit the time you spend out of the house, as it is stated in the verse: “And none of ...
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Neurodiversity - autism , dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD [closed]
The word neurodiversity was coined in 1998 by Judy Singer who was the daughter of a holocaust survivor. It is more than a word but rather a paradigm that people with autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ...
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What name to use when praying for baby in need of healing before it is born?
Typically, when praying for someone in need of healing, we refer to them as "NAME ben/bat MOTHERS_NAME". For a baby before it is given a name, we can refer to them as "tinok ben/bat ...
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Leniency for depression on Shabbat?
The Talmud says:
"הַמְכַבֶּה אֶת הַנֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מִתְיָרֵא מִפְּנֵי גּוֹיִם וּמִפְּנֵי לִיסְטִים, מִפְּנֵי רוּחַ רָעָה, מִפְּנֵי הַחוֹלֶה שֶׁיִּישַׁן — פָּטוּר."
"One who ...
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Must one fast if her stomach hurts?
If someone's stomach hurts on Sheva asar b'tammuz, should she fast? Or do these extenuating circumstances free her from her obligation?
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May a Kohen with Auto-Brewery Syndrome Duchan?
This question is related to another question asked (How much alcohol does one need to consume in order to be halachically drunk or intoxicated?).
Auto-Brewery Syndrome is a condition in which fungi or ...
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Is it permissible for a convert to care for a sick parental figure at home? [closed]
Suppose someone wishing to convert to Judaism was caring in her home for a chronically-ill adoptive parent who practiced another religion. Would this be an impediment to the conversion process? Would ...
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When is leniency allowed in treating sick people on Shabbat or Yom Tov?
Fourteen Israeli Sephardic rabbis have ruled that video-seders are acceptable during a pandemic. They based their ruling on the fact that halacha allows treating sick people on Shabbat even if their ...
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When it comes to making Kiddush, what's recommended for someone who is allergic to grapes?
I recently was reading about allergies and discovered examples of where individuals could experience anaphylaxis from ingesting grapes and grape derivatives.
I was curious as to what the protocol is ...
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Wording of refaenu for sick person who is not Jewish
The refaenu bracha in the amida has wording to use for praying for someone who is sick. That wording ends "among the other ailing of Israel". Is it appropriate to use that wording for a ...
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At which point during the Torah reading on Shabbat is it appropriate to recite the prayer for the sick (מי שברך לחולים)?
Is there a correct or preferred point (aliyah) during the Shabbat Torah reading at which the traditional "mi shebeirach lecholim" prayer for the sick should be recited by the gabbai?
If such ...
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Diseases that Halachically exempt one from Torah and Mitzvot?
BS"D
I always heard that one who is a שוטה to a certain extent isn't obligated in Torah and Mitzvot. The first time I saw something similar inside is in Rambam Mishneh Torah (Yad Hachazaka) ...
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Father is sick but he's not Jewish
My mother is Jewish and I was raised Jewish. My dad converted in the reform tradition and I know what that means. Recently he's become ill, I am scared of what that means. I am incredibly close with ...
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Face Mask for Shmoneh Esreh?
Is a facemask considered "overdressed for davening"? Is there a difference between a disposable blue one vs custom made
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Tele-kovod?/ How do halochos of kovod and hidur (honor/ respect) apply virtually?
Must one stand for a Rabbi present by video conference?
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Are you liable for infecting others?
The Talmud says:
One who injures another becomes liable for five things: damages, pain, medical expenses, incapacitation, and mental anguish. [Bava Kamma 83b]
It does not spell out HOW or WHY the ...
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Does the COVID19 epidemic in NYC qualify as "Dever B'ir - a Plague in the City"?
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, 576) defines dever r"l or pestilence as an epidemic killing 3 people in 3 days (not 3 people in 4 days; not 3 people in 2 days) for a city of 500 working age men. How is ...
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What is the difference between a sickness and a plague?
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, Siman 576) discusses fasting and praying for Dever (a plague), and also for a sickness (choli). What is the difference between sickness and plague?
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Shabbat Hi Milizok: How to pray for sick on Shabbat?
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites has been suggesting in his weekly Dvar Torah that people praying at home because of the Corona virus epidemic should add to the prayers ...
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How do we do Shabbat Hagadol Drasha at home
Because of the Corona virus synagogues are closed this week Tzav 5780 which is Shabbat Hagadol, we will not be able to fulfill the custom of a Shabbat Hagadol Drasha (sermon) according to the usual ...
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Fasting in Nissan for epidemic
In general we refrain from observing fast days during the month of Nissan (S"A O"C 429:2). There are some exceptions, like a taanis chalom.
For a communal distress such as a deadly epidemic a ...
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Gedolim on Spanish Flu
Did the Gedolim of the time during whcih the Spanish Flu was spreading (and killed anywhere from 17 million to 50 million people) comment on it and provide any halachic guidance on whether to permit ...
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How can the Gemara entertain the possibility that mental health takes priority over a potential danger to life?
Bava Kamma 60b writes that one should remain indoors when a plague rages outside, quoting three pesukim to support this. While the first passuk establishes the base case, the second passuk establishes ...
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Shabbat in Quarantine
Israel is currently (March 20th, 2020) under lockdown, shuls are closed, and most people will not pray in a minyan or hear the Torah read. I've seen recent psakim about shutting down shuls, but are ...
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Was Achashveirosh feeling unwell in beginning of chapter six?
In the beginning of chapter six it says that the king couldn't sleep and he was told a story of how Mordechai saved him, etc. And it them says that Haman was coming to tell the king about his plan.
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Torah response to epidemics
What advice can be found in Torah sources for what to do in cases of an epidemic or pandemic? Or what does the Torah say to prevent sickness, even if it weren't epidemic?
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Mishloach Manos from quarantine [duplicate]
The Jerusalem Post quotes Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum, director of the Straus-Amiel Institute of Ohr Torah Stone, as saying that if someone is quarantined due to the coronavirus they should send someone a ...
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Megillah for someone in quarantine due to coronavirus [duplicate]
I've been hearing multiple opinions as to what someone in quarantine for Coronavirus should do for Megillas Esther.
The RCA quotes Rav Hershel Schachter as saying:
“In a situation in which it is ...
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Articles on care of terminally ill patients according to Halacha
Can someone suggest a well-written article on the treatment of terminally ill patients according to Halacha?
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What are the time parameters of "pikuach nefesh" on Shabbos?
This article says:
Any procedure which is necessary to perform for the patient, but it is clear that it does not at all need to be performed on Shabbat, should be delayed until after Shabbat.
How ...
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