"If you encounter your enemy's ox or donkey wandering astray, you must return it
to him." Exodus 23:4
In this command, the Torah (Bible) makes two demands:
1) To go out of our way to return a lost animal to its rightful owner.
2) To overcome our hostile feelings towards our enemy if the lost animal happens to be his.
If this is what Yahveh demands of us in regard to our enemy's belonging, how much more
are we responsible when we see friends going astray and acting improperly? Yet, how often do we avoid telling them that what
they are doing is wrong? We rationalize by saying: "We do not wish to interfere in their private affairs. How they run their
life is their own business," or "We don't want to offend them."
Yet, if you truly care for others, you will take the necessary steps to protect them from themselves,
even if they may be angry with you for doing so. Honesty is stronger than sympathy. A person who has suffered from
grievous mistakes often says: "If only someone had stopped me!"
When we see a friend doing something, which we sincerely believe to be wrong, we have the responsibility
to give them our opinion.
