Love your enemies?

אִם רָעֵב שֹׂנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵהוּ לָחֶם וְאִם צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מָיִם	If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
כִּי גֶחָלִים אַתָּה חֹתֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וַיי יְשַׁלֶּם-לָךְ	Because you would build heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will give you peace.

Proverbs 25:21-22

The teaching about showing love and mercy to an enemy, is part of the ethics of ancient Israel. Mercy can change enemies into friends. Today as we all, friends and enemies, face the tragedy of a pandemic we are learning to show compassion to everyone, even to the enemies. May we be empowered to be instruments of peace in times of conflicts and instruments of comfort in time of suffering.

עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא בְּרַחֲמָיו יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

May the Maker of peace in t he high heavens may in his mercy, make peace for us and for all Israel, and say amen.