Learn practical ways to support those facing illness and bring comfort to those in need
As we enter the month of Elul and prepare for the Yamim Nora’im, the entire community is invited to strengthen their practice of the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim. This Sunday evening, September 7, at 8:00 p.m., a community gathering will take place at the Young Israel of Queens Valley, 141-55 77th Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. The event – open to both men and women, and with no solicitations – will highlight practical ways to assist those facing health challenges.
The event was inspired by Allen Gottfried, former president of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, whose example included regularly sharing the names of members who were unwell and encouraging others to reach out with a visit or a phone call. His reminders showed how meaningful and simple this mitzvah can be. Even small acts can provide comfort to those in need.
Personal experiences also helped shape this initiative. When Reb Aryeh Greenberg’s mother, already widowed after the passing of his father, was suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease, she was left to navigate her challenges alone. Her speech was limited, and her mobility was gone. She asked what purpose her life still had and what mitzvos she could continue to fulfill. Her painful question – echoing the feelings of many who face chronic conditions – left her family searching for clarity and underscored the need for greater sensitivity and care.
Another source of inspiration came when Aryeh and Rena Greenberg’s daughter, Bryna Bracha a”h, was ill. A woman – known to them only as Mrs. K – would call several times each week with encouragement, resources, and connections to people who could help. She even covered a $4,000 bill for experimental medical treatment. Over two and a half years, she demonstrated what true bikur cholim looks like – a steady presence and kindness far beyond a single gesture.
Most recently, the health struggles of their friend, Avraham David ben Nechamah Etel, emphasized the urgency of addressing both the physical and emotional needs of those suffering, as well as the vital role of friends and neighbors in offering strength and help. This program is dedicated lizchus his speedy r’fuah sh’leimah.
With this backdrop, the Greenbergs worked to bring the event to Queens, hoping it would foster greater sensitivity and commitment. They expressed their wish that it would encourage the healthy to better understand the needs of those in fragile health, while giving those facing hardship the strength to approach each day with hope, happiness, and purpose.
The program will feature three distinguished speakers:
Rabbi Shmuel Marcus shlita, Rav of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, will speak on “Bikur Cholim: Building Communal Strength.”
Rabbi Eliezer Gewirtzman shlita, Dayan of Khal Mishkoltz Coventry in Lakewood, will present “Words of Comfort: Practical Guidance for Visiting with Sensitivity and Understanding.”
Rabbi Yonathan Emmett shlita, educator and author of Remission Impossible, will share “Bikur Cholim: A Patient’s Voice.”
This event is designed not merely as a lecture series but as a moment of chizuk for all of Queens. Each speaker will help us reflect on how we can aid those enduring hardship through empathy and action. At its heart, the gathering is a call to embrace the mitzvah of bikur cholim in a more thoughtful and practical way. It reminds us that simple gestures – a phone call, a visit, a listening ear – can bring immeasurable comfort and hope.
All are warmly urged to attend this Elul event, uniting klal Yisrael with compassion as we prepare for the upcoming Yamim Nora’im. May this sacred mitzvah bring solace to those in need and brachah to our community.
By QJL Staff