The Truest Test of Compassion

Yael Eckstein  |  April 25, 2023

After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her. — Deuteronomy 21:13–14

Compassion is one of Judaism’s highest values and this caring concern and empathy for our fellow human beings is considered one of the three distinguishing marks of being Jewish. Enjoy these 11 devotions on this very important concept for Christians and Jews.

As a friend of Israel, you, like me, are probably frustrated by the slanted media coverage of Israel. The media loves to portray Israel as an aggressive enemy of her Arab neighbors, but that picture is very far from the truth.

For example, even though Israel is officially at war with Syria ever since Syria’s civil war began a few years ago, Israel has been quietly treating injured Syrians, who are often secretly brought across the border to Israeli hospitals. What’s more, Israel treats the injured at its own expense.

One Israeli hospital administrator said, “For us they are patients who need immediate help or they will die. And it makes no difference where they come from, or whether they’re combatants or civilians.”

The Truest Test of Compassion

Treating our enemies with kindness is part of our tradition, going all the way back to the Torah itself. We read in the Book of Deuteronomy, “After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.”

According to the Torah, a woman captured in war was to be given 30 days to mourn her family, and only after that time, if the soldier truly wished to make her his wife, could he then marry her. Otherwise, she was to be set free.

A few verses later we learn that an Israelite found guilty of a capital offense must be put to death. The Jewish sages comment that these two laws are side by side to teach us that we are to treat all people fairly. Everyone, even our enemies, must be treated with justice and with mercy.

Treating our enemies with kindness is the truest test of compassion. We need to forgive those who have hurt us, but the Bible encourages us to go even further. We are to help, assist, and treat our former “enemies” with kindness and dignity.

Your Turn:

Is there someone in your life who has hurt you in the past? Consider how you can let go of that painful memory and embrace the person with love.