Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

“I would like to have a drink of water.”
As Aaron drank the water that Rabbi Akiva gave him, Rabbi Akiva began talking.
“In class we are studying about Abraham. We learned how God visited Abraham when
Abraham was feeling sick.” said Rabbi Akiva.
“It is so nice to hear about what is going on in school. I miss it very much. I hope that I
can come back in a few days.” said Aaron.
Rabbi Akiva sat with Aaron for a while. “Aaron, it was so good to see you. I will tell all
the other students why you were not in school.”
“Rabbi Akiva,” Aaron said, with a big smile on his face, “your visit made me feel so
much better.”
As Rabbi Akiva got up to leave, he smiled at Aaron. “It is a mitzvah to visit the sick.
When someone visits the sick, the visitor takes away some of the sickness or hurt.”
Aaron said, “You are so right, Rabbi Akiva. I know I will be back in school soon.”
Aaron smiled and was very happy. Rabbi Akiva smiled and was very happy.
For class discussion:
1. Why was Aaron happy?
2. Why was Rabbi Akiva happy?
3. How does someone take away some of the sickness when they do bikur cholim
and visit a sick person?
4. What do you think Rabbi Akiva told his students when he went back to school the
next day?
5. What are some ways we can help people who may be sick or injured feel better?
For class life:
1. There are many ways to involve children in the mitzvah of bikur cholim. The
class can call an absent child on the phone, or make and send cards in the mail.
2. If the class has jobs, one job can be bikur cholim helper. This child is responsible
for noticing if all the children are present, and to point out if someone is missing.
If a child is missing because she or he is sick, the bikur cholim helper can call the
child on the phone.
3. Another Jewish thing to do when someone is sick is say a blessing for healing. If
a child or close relative of a child in the class is sick, the children can sing a
healing song (for example, Debbie Friedman’s Mishaberach or Rick Recht’s El
Na R’fa Na La, which is the healing prayer Moses said for his sister Miriam).
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
12