The Talmud teaches that God came to visit Abraham in his time of recovery, and therefore we too are obligated to visit the sick in their time of need (Genesis 18 and BT Baba Metzia 86b.) From this we learn the mitzvah of caring for and visiting the sick bikur cholim. Hundreds of Union congregations now run a range of different visitation programs.

Bikur Cholim programs remain the most popular way of introducing the Caring Community to a congregation. The program has evolved with the needs of the congregation continues to develop and change as and as hospital stays have shortened and new laws have been implemented (we advise congregations in the US to be aware of HIPPA laws.)

A representative sample of a how to develop such a program is contained within the Department's publication, "Becoming a Kehillat Chesed: Creating and Sustaining a Caring Congregation."