Welcome to Ezras Cholim of Arizona
Helping Arizona Families Through Tough Times
Ezras Cholim: “Helping the Sick.”
Our Mission is to help Jewish patients and their family members meet their basic needs, so that they can focus their energy on healing and getting medical care. Ezras Cholim of Arizona was created in 2015 by a group of dedicated volunteers to serve the needs of people facing illness in the Greater Phoenix Jewish community.
No one should feel hopeless and alone in a hospital or rehab center! No one should worry about compromising their religious observances as they battle illness, and neither should their family or care givers.
What We Do
Ezras Cholim is only organization in Arizona that provides emergency support services to sick Jews and those who seek our help. We provide Kosher meals to patients and their care givers, volunteer visitations, rabbinic counseling, guidance and patient advocacy. Moreover, when you are discharged Ezras Cholim will still stay by your side even if you are sent to a rehabilitation hospital or sent home.
Did You Know?
There are thousands of Arizonans being helped by the Arizona Kosher Pantry each month?
Currently, we provide over 200,000 pounds of food a year and we are trending up each month?
You can claim a tax credit on your income tax by donating to one of our needed programs?
Our Services

Kosher Get Well Meals
Get well and keep Kosher!
400 Kosher meals delivered to patients and caregivers monthly.

Visiting the Sick
You are not alone!
Ezras Cholim volunteers regularly visit Jewish and other patients that reach out to us!

Rehab and Home Health
Discharged from the hospital?
We know that you still may need our help even though you are going home or to a rehabilitation center to recuperate!

Appointment Driving
Can’t get to your appointments?
Ezras Cholim volunteers will drive you to your appointments.
We are here to help!

Patient Advocacy
Ezras Cholim stands by you!
Have questions about your treatment and cannot get answers? Rabbis, translators, doctors and lawyers are available to aid you.

Seniors Programs
Hot Kosher meals!
The Arizona Kosher Pantry delivers delicious Kosher meals to Community Centers, Senior Centers and shut ins.

Rabbinical Counselling
Our Rabbis come to you!
Our Rabbis make rounds to Jewish patients who reach out to us! They would love to learn with you and say Tehillim for your quick recovery.

Medical Gemach
Medical Device Closet
We loan out crutches, walkers, knee walkers, wheelchairs, and power wheelchairs. On Shabbat volunteers will push you for a stroll!
Ezras Cholim - Visiting the Sick
The Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim
The mitzvah of Bikur Cholim is based on the Biblical commandments to walking in G-d’s merciful ways, and to love your fellow as you love your self. Just as G-D visited Abraham when he was recuperating from his circumcision, so are we also obligated to visit and encourage the sick.
The Talmud Nedarim 40a relates that when a student of Rabbi Akiva fell ill and no one visited him he drew near to death. Rabbi Akiva and his then students visited him and cleaned his room and cared for him. This caused him to recover. The student told Rabbi Akiva that he saved his life. This incident formed the basis of Rabbi Akiva ruling that to not visit the sick is as if one killed them. Visiting the sick is a religious obligation to save life.
Bava Metzia 30b states that visiting the sick takes away one sixtieth of one’s illness. Moreover, the Mishna states that visiting the sick is a mitzvah whose principle reward is in the World to Come. The Talmud also interpretes Psalms 41:2 that one who visits the sick will be saved from Gehenom. in a similar vein, the Talmud also relates how two brothers, who were jesters, by making sad people laugh and using humor to end arguments between two parties they merited the World to Come. Certainly bringing joy and comfort to a suffering patient can not only do a world of good for the patient, but will also be of help for those who do this great mitzvah in earning the eternal world..
Visiting the Sick According to the Holy Shaloh
(See Chabad.org article on Bikur Cholim: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/383786/jewish/Bikur-Cholim-Visiting-the-Sick.htm#footnote1a383786)
Rabbi Yeshayahu Horowitz, the holy Shaloh, writes that the commandment of visiting the sick involves three components: with one’s body (beguf), with one’s soul (benefesh) and with one’s money (bemamon).
- With one’s body: Not only should you pay a personal visit, but you should also do actual things which will uplift the spirit and the comfort of the patient. This can be accomplished in a number of ways; bringing him material to read, bringing her food (especially if the patient is in a hospital where she might avoid eating many of the foods due to kashrut concerns), helping raise or lower the bed, brightening up the room, etc. When a patient is in a hospital, there are more opportunities for doing this aspect, since nurses do not always have enough time to deal with patients. [As mentioned earlier, one must use common sense, and not overstay a visit, or visit at inopportune times.]
- With one’s soul: by praying and saying Psalms for the sick. Don’t forget to wish and bless the sick with a speedy recovery (“refuah sheleimah”) before leaving. Rabbi Moshe Isserles, the Rema, writes that a person who visits the sick and does not pray for him has not fulfilled this commandment. The Talmud3 states that one who is able to pray for the sick and does not is called a sinner. [Thus, if Psalms are being said in synagogue for a sick person, it is important to participate.]
- With one’s money: If the sick person is having financial difficulties covering his medical expenses, then one should help him. This also will help bring the sick person a bit of peace of mind. [It would seem to me that included in this component would be giving charity on behalf of the sick person.]
Volunteers Needed
Ezras Cholim helps the sick and elderly by providing them with Kosher Meals, visitations advocacy, and rehab support Tomchei Shabbos provide Kosher Meals to families who couldn’t otherwise observe the Shabbath or festivals. To keep these important services functioning we depend on volunteers!
- Drivers
- Telephone Operators
- Visitors to the Elderly
- Shop for a Sick or Elderly Person
- Host a Fundraiser
- Donate Canned and Nonperishable Foods
- Make a Tax-Deductible Donation
To volunteer or to find out more information please call (602)492-4989