Mishpatim 

משפטים

In this Torah portion we find the mitzva not to disregard the donkey of one’s enemy that is stuck while transporting a burden, unable to proceed and bear the burden that is upon it. The Sages demonstrate how this halakha can help enemies to reconcile.

Rabbi Alexandri said: Two donkey drivers who hated each other were proceeding on the way. The donkey of one of them crouched. The other passed and saw that the donkey was crouched due to the weight of its burden. He said: Isn’t it written in the Torah: “If you see the donkey of your enemy crouching under its burden…you shall assist with him” (Exodus 23:5)? What did he do? He went to load the donkey in a manner that it could bear its burden and thus joined the owner in loading the donkey. The owner began speaking with him: Assist a bit from here, lift from here, loosen here. While they loaded the donkey together, they made peace between them. The other one said: Didn’t I believe he was my enemy? Look how he had compassion on me when he saw me and my donkey in distress. Consequently, they entered an inn, ate and drank together, and came to love one another. <source>(Tanĥuma, Mishpatim) </source>

In this Torah portion we find the mitzva not to disregard the donkey of one’s enemy that is stuck while transporting a burden, unable to proceed and bear the burden that is upon it. The Sages demonstrate how this halakha can help enemies to reconcile. 