HOTLINE

(602) 492-4989

7118 North 7th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85020

HOTLINE (602) 492-4989

Donate Now!

Welcome to Ezras Cholim of Arizona

Helping Arizona Families  Through Tough Times

Donate Now!

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?

Learn More

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).

  1. 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.]
  2. 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.]
  3. 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.]

Ezras Cholim Visiting the sick

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

 

Ezras Cholim Testimonials

  • I am a disabled veteran and also a single mother. So when my son’s father wasn’t working last year and we lost our child support, Ezra’s Cholim stepped in to help us out. They have been there when I was too sick to even leave my house and had someone personally drop food off. My son is always super excited to see what awesome things they have. I wish everyone could see how grateful he is for the snacks he gets when he says, “Thank you thank you thank you!” The people that work there are always helpful and try to always meet our needs. They have even helped me financially when my uncle died so we could go to the funeral; and also when my alternator went out in my car. I definitely recommend them for anyone struggling or in need. They are truly doing a mitzvah for the entire community and beyond.

    Sent from my iPhone

    Amanda Grounds

  • I am writing this on behalf of Yechezkel, Elchanan, associates, and friends; coworkers of Ezras Cholim and staff from Torah Day School.

    My kids and I have been struggling and in need, someone wonderful from the school acknowledged that, and contacted Yechezkel who turned out to be one of a few most appreciated gifts I have received since moving to Phoenix they have been extremely kind and helpful.

    My children and I want to thank the women in the community who donated the items we received that my kids needed, and we couldn't afford at the time. The kids from 11 to 2 years old absolutely love what they got and are so fond of the people who have helped us. They have been a true G-d send.

    We appreciate all of them so much and they have been more than friends to me they have been like family which my family doesn’t have in the area.

    My kids look forward to just seeing Elchanan and Yechezkel. They have been a blessing thank you all for your help, kindness, and understanding.

    Shoshana Harris And Children

    Shoshana Harris

  • BS’D

    To the founders and volunteers of the Ezras Cholim of Phoenix,

    When I was 19, I flew to Phoenix from New York along with my parents to have a serious surgery.
    We were overwhelmed to say the least, traveling someplace we hadn’t been before, and not knowing what to expect. We had no friends or family to rely on, that is before we met the Ezras Cholim. Then we had someone helping us every step of the way. No detail was overlooked. Airport rides, kosher food, visitors, and more visitors. We discovered that we did, in fact, have friends in Phoenix, and they held our hand every step of the way.

    Every year on the anniversary of my surgery I think back to my time in Phoenix, and have to tell my family again how grateful I am that we had the love and support of the Ezras Cholim. You absolutely transformed what the experience was.

    With much love and appreciation,

    Tizku l’mitzvos!!
    Basya F. (December 2019)

    Basya F.

  • Ezras Cholim has been instrumental in keeping me alive since their inception.
    They have delivered me food on a regular basis when I was not able to get to their Kosher Food Pantry or being hospitalized or not able to have transportation.
    They have consistently provided me with meals and other necessary supplies.
    Their staff is exceptional and the man behind it all Yecheskel Friedman is a blessing to our community.
    He is a pillar in our community and he continues to put smiles on everyone’s face one smile at a time.

    Jerome B

  • To Whom It May Concern:

    It is an honor and pleasure for me to write this letter of commendation on behalf of Mr. Friedman and his staff—all of whom are the most wonderful, caring, thoughtful, compassionate people one can find.
    And the meals they deliver to the elderly sick and homebound are outstandingly delicious.

    Ezras Cholim provides a much needed service to the Jewish Community in the Greater Phoenix area.
    I live in Sun Lakes, and yet they go of their way to accommodate me whenever I call—and Mr. Friedman is kind enough to call me when he hasn’t heard from me in a while.

    I have dealt with Ezras Cholim for just a few months, and it’s been a blessing and a delight.
    Whoever deals with them will heartily concur—and bless the staff as I do.

    Best wishes,

    Ann B.

  • I am a disabled veteran and also a single mother. So when my son’s father wasn’t working last year and we lost our child support, Ezra’s Cholim stepped in to help us out. They have been there when I was too sick to even leave my house and had someone personally drop food off. My son is always super excited to see what awesome things they have. I wish everyone could see how grateful he is for the snacks he gets when he says, “Thank you thank you thank you!” The people that work there are always helpful and try to always meet our needs. They have even helped me financially when my uncle died so we could go to the funeral; and also when my alternator went out in my car. I definitely recommend them for anyone struggling or in need. They are truly doing a mitzvah for the entire community and beyond.

    Amanda

  • To Yecheskel,

    We wish you and your family a Chag Sameach. Thank you for your assistance and compassion.
    We are truly grateful for your kindness. Happy Chanukah!

    Rivkah

  • THANK YOU SO MUCH

    I cannot say enough about Ezras Cholim! I was extremely hesitant to call, because I did not want to be a bother to the community.
    However, I promised my doctor that I would get help, and so I had to follow through. I also wanted to remain anonymous, and thought who would want to help someone they don’t know? But Ezras Cholim was there. From the moment I called, Yecheskel was telling me that they would be SO happy to help, and not to feel bad that I need help. By the time I called, I had been off my feet for about a month, and really needed the help as soon as possible. I called on a Thursday. The NEXT DAY Yecheskel brought the entire Shabbos for my family, along with much needed household help. I continued to receive meals for THREE weeks, and Ezras Cholim STILL brings food every Shabbos and often during the week too!
    Yecheskel follows up with me frequently to see what our needs are. Thank G-d, I am getting back to my feet. But when I was completely in bed, Ezras Cholim sent my baby to daycare, and took care of household help twice a week! I cannot even imagine where my family would be now without Ezras Cholim. The people of Ezras Cholim are amazing. I am a complete stranger, yet they are happy to help keep our family afloat during this very difficult time. I am looking forward to the day (hopefully soon) when I will be back on my feet completely, and can cook and provide delicious meals for Ezras Cholim, as they have done for my family.

    Thank you so much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Anonymous

Contact Us!

Get in Touch!