שו"ת ציץ אליעזר חלק ה - רמת רחל סימן ד
בכל מקום ומקום שישראל יושבים, ליחד קופה לביקור חולים, והוא שהחולים העניים שאין ידם משגת להוצאות רפואתם, הקהל שולחים להם רופא לבקרם והרפואות מכיס הקהל ונותנים להם מזון הראוי לחולים דבר יום ביומו כפי ציווי הרופאים.
It has been enacted that in every place in which Jews live, the community sets aside a fund for care of the sick. When poor people are ill and who cannot afford medical expenses, the community sends them a doctor to visit them, and the medicine is paid for by the communal fund. Additionally, the community should provide the appropriate amount of daily food for the sick, according to the doctor's prescription. [Translation by AJWS]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What does this text teach about communal responsibility?
2. What can you draw from this text about the Jewish ruling on universal health care?
3. Although American Jews no longer use one communal fund, this concept is still somewhat used. What is your communities communal fund? How is it allocated?
Time Period: Contemporary (The Yom Kippur War until the present-day)