SECTION 287 Comforting Mourners and Visiting the Sick on Shabbos (1-3)

סימן רפז נִחוּם אֲבֵלִים וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ג׳ סְעִיפִים׃

1 It is permitted to visit the sick on Shabbos.1[However,] one should not entreat for [Divine] mercy on their behalf as is done during the week, [saying] “May the Omnipresent be merciful…,”2 for by entreating for mercy,3 [the sick persons] will be roused to weep and become distressed.4 Instead, he should uplift their frame of mind with words of consolation so that they do not become distressed on Shabbos, by saying: “It is Shabbos, when it is forbidden to cry out; healing will [surely] come soon, for His mercies are abundant; rest on Shabbos in tranquility.”5 Other authorities maintain that it is not necessary to say “His mercies are abundant.….” This is the prevailing custom.

Similarly, in the synagogue when the sheliach tzibbur blesses the sick, saying Mi shebeirach (“May He Who blessed…”), he should not say “The Omnipresent will send healing.”6 Instead, he should say: “It is Shabbos, when it is forbidden to cry out; healing will [surely] come soon.”

א מֻתָּר לְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת.א,1 וְלֹא יְבַקֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים בְּחֹל: "הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם וְכוּ'",ב,2 שֶׁעַל יְדֵי בַּקָּשַׁת רַחֲמִים3 יְעוֹרֵר בֶּכִי וְיִצְטַעֵר,ג,4 אֶלָּא צָרִיךְ לְהַרְחִיב דַּעְתָּם בְּדִבְרֵי תַנְחוּמִים שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטַעֲרוּד בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁיֹּאמַר: "שַׁבָּת הִיא מִלִּזְעוֹק וּרְפוּאָה קְרוֹבָה לָבֹא, וְרַחֲמָיו מְרֻבִּים וְשִׁבְתוּ בְּשָׁלוֹם".ה,5 וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִין לוֹמַר: "וְרַחֲמָיו מְרֻבִּים כוּ'".ו וְכֵן נָהֲגוּ.ז

וְכֵן הַשְּׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר כְּשֶׁמְּבָרֵךְ הַחוֹלֶה בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְאוֹמֵר "מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ כוּ'" – לֹא יֹאמַר: "הַמָּקוֹם יִשְׁלַח רְפוּאָה כוּ'",6 אֶלָּא יֹאמַר: "שַׁבָּת הִיא מִלִּזְעוֹק וּרְפוּאָה קְרוֹבָה לָבֹא":ח

Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch (SIE)

The new layout – with the original text and the facing translation – provides a unique user-friendly approach to studying the Alter Rebbe’s work. An inclusive commentary provides insightful explanations and guidelines for actual practice.

Buy Now More Info

2 It is also permitted to console mourners on Shabbos. It is permitted to say, as one does during the week, “May the Omnipresent comfort you,”7 for by offering him these wishes of consolation [he] will not rouse [him to] weep.8

ב וּמֻתָּר לְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים בְּשַׁבָּת.ט וּמֻתָּר לוֹמַר כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים בְּחֹל: "הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֶמְךָ",י,7 שֶׁעַל יְדֵי בַּקָּשָׁתוֹ עַל נֶחָמָתוֹ לֹא יְעוֹרֵר בֶּכִי:יא,8

3 [Yet, our Sages] only reluctantly permitted one to comfort mourners9 and visit the sick on Shabbos10lest one come to join them in their sorrow.11 It is not appropriate to emulate [the conduct of] those who do not make such visits during the week, but only on Shabbos.

ג וּבְקֹשִׁי הִתִּירוּ לְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים9 וּלְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת,יב,10 שֶׁמָּא יָבֹא לְהִצְטַעֵר עִמָּהֶם,יג,11 וְלֹא כְּאוֹתָן שֶׁאֵין הוֹלְכִים כָּל יְמוֹת הַשָּׁבוּעַ רַק בְּשַׁבָּת לְבָד:יד