Visit the Sick in the Hospital

It is a mitzvah to visit the sick in the hospital. A mitzvah is a commandment from God, therefore it is our duty to visit the sick, not something that we do as a favor to someone else.

The favor from the Jewish viewpoint is the other way around, that those in need are doing us a favor by allowing us to visit them. When we visit the sick, as with any mitzvah, people do not need to thank us, but rather we should be thankful, being that someone is already in need, we have an opportunity to help.

As always, before Shabbat, Shlomi when to the rich man's house. The rich man gave Shlomi 10 shekels. Shlomi said, "Ten shekels, what is this? Last week you gave me 50 shekels."

The rich man looked sheepish and shrugged, "Times are rough, with the economy. Last week was a bad week."

Shlomi replied, "I see, you did not do well, but why should I suffer?"