Queens Community Invited To Elul Evening Of Bikur Cholim Awareness

As the Jewish community of Queens enters the month of Elul and prepares for the Yamim Nora’im, all are 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 Young Israel of Queens Valley, 141-55 77th Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. The event—open to both men and women, 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 often sharing the names of members who were unwell and urging 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 provide comfort to those in need.

Personal experiences also shaped this initiative. When Reb Aryeh Greenberg’s mother, already widowed after the passing of his father, was suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease and left to navigate her challenges alone, her speech was limited and her mobility gone. She asked what purpose her life still had, and what mitzvot she could continue to fulfill. Her painful question—echoing the feelings of many who face chronic conditions—left her family searching for clarity, underscoring the need for greater sensitivity and care.

A further source of inspiration came when Aryeh and Rena Greenberg’s daughter, Bryna Bracha a”h, was ill. A woman—known to them 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 showed what true bikur cholim looks like—steady presence and kindness far beyond a single gesture.

Most recently, the health struggles of their friend, Avrum Dovid ben Nechama Etel, emphasized the urgency of addressing both the physical and emotional needs of those suffering, and the vital role of friends and neighbors in offering strength and help. This program is dedicated l’zechut his speedy r’fuah sh’leimah.

With this backdrop, the Greenbergs worked to bring the event to Queens in the hope that it would foster greater sensitivity and commitment. They expressed their wish that it 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 shlit"a, rav of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, will speak on “Bikur Cholim: Building Communal Strength.” Rabbi Eliezer Gewirtzman shlit"a, dayan of Khal Mishkoltz Coventry in Lakewood, will present on “Words of Comfort: Practical Guidance for Visiting with Sensitivity and Understanding.” Rabbi Yonathan Emmett shlit"a, 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.