“I’m truly sorry,” Oskar Gröning publicly said during his 2015 trial. As a former Nazi officer at Auschwitz, he was being held accountable for his role in the wickedness of the Holocaust.
Eva Kor, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz, did something unexpected. She shook his hand in court. Later, she even hugged him. Her actions shocked many.
“I forgive the Nazis not because they deserve it, but because I deserve it,” Eva said.
Shock Them with Forgiveness
She explained that forgiveness wasn’t about excusing him from legal responsibility—it was about freeing herself from hatred and reclaiming her own power. By choosing to forgive, she found peace and closure, transforming her pain into hope and resilience.
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.” — Proverbs 25:21-22
Most of us will never face the kind of injustice that Eva did, but we’ve all been hurt by someone.
I’ve always considered myself a kind person, but at one of my previous jobs, I had a coworker who constantly yelled at me. She even made me clean up a mess that wasn’t mine, despite seeing how busy I was.
I didn’t know how to react. I’m not quick to anger, but over time, I reached my breaking point. I went to human resources explaining the situation to her. She had me document each incident. This woman came in to human resources to apologize. She even hugged me. I accepted her apology, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she was only doing it to save face in front of HR.
Justice or Forgiveness
Everything in me wanted to humiliate her the way she’d done to me. That’s human nature—we want justice, or at least a sense of fairness. But God was calling me to something higher. He wasn’t just asking me to be civil to her; He was asking me to go out of my way to show her kindness.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44
So I did. I prayed for her, even after I left that job. (And no, I didn’t leave because of her.) I asked God to bless her and to help me forgive.
When Proverbs talks about giving your enemy food and water, it’s about more than just meeting physical needs—it’s about extending grace. Feeding someone isn’t an obligation unless they’re a guest in my house. If I choose to do it anyway, it’s an act of kindness.
That’s what Eva did for Oskar Gröning. She had no obligation to shake his hand or embrace him. But she did.
Jesus Command
The phrase “burning coals” in Proverbs is a metaphor for awakening someone’s conscience. Maybe Eva’s kindness made Oskar feel even more ashamed of his past. Maybe he had only joined the Nazis out of fear of what would happen if he refused. We don’t know. But what we do know is that her actions reflected Jesus’ command:
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” — Luke 6:27-28
God rewarded Eva with inner peace and emotional healing. She was no longer consumed by hatred for those who destroyed her life. Instead, she found freedom.
Kindness has the power to transform lives. I never went out of my way to be kind to my coworker, but I did pray for her. If I had actively shown her kindness, would it have given me even greater peace, knowing I was fully walking in God’s will?
What About You
What about you? Have you ever extended grace to someone who mistreated you? How did it impact you? Write about some ways you can show kindness to those who have hurt you.
For more on justice check out The Change Maker: Martin Luther King Jr. here and Transform from a Seed to a Flower here.
Sources & References:
“Proverbs 25:21-22.” The New International Version Bible, Biblica, Inc., www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2025%3A21-22&version=NIV.
“Matthew 5:44.” The New International Version Bible, Biblica, Inc., www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mathew%205%3A44&version=NIV.
“Luke 6:27-28.” The New International Version Bible, Biblica, Inc., www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%206%3A27-28&version=NIV.
“Auschwitz guard trial: Oskar Groening admits ‘moral guilt'” BBC News, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32344604.
“Forgiving Abuse Not Forgetting Auschwitz Eva Kor.” The Guardian, 1 May 2015, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/01/forgiving-abuse-not-forgetting-auschwitz-eva-kor.
“Survivors Forgiveness Eva Mozes Kor.” Tablet Magazine, www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/survivors-forgivenesss-eva-mozes-kor.
CANDLES Holocaust Museum & Education Center, www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org.