EXOD66 According to the Mussar masters, compassion can come in two forms. There is "compassion in the form of compassion," when our feeling along with the other leads us to act kindly, softly, and gently. The second type of compassion comes as "compassion in the form of judgment." In this case, our shared feelings with the other call for action that is firm, hard, or possibly even harsh. The classic example of compassion in the form of compassion is the redemption of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. It has been argued that the Jews in Egypt did not deserve to be redeemed from slavery. There are traditions that say that while in Egypt, the people of Israel assimilated, did not keep what they knew of tradition (which was incomplete, in any case, because the Torah had not yet been received), and, worst of all, became idolaters. The prophet Ezekiel reveals, "I also said to them, 'Cast away, everyone of you, the detestable things that you are drawn to, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt--I am the Lord your God.' But they defied to Me and refused to listen to Me." Ezekiel 20:7–8. Why, then, did God redeem the Israelites and free them from the oppression of slavery? That was solely because of God's compassion [this verse]. The way the prophet Isaiah puts it fits well with our view that compassion is based on the experience of non-separateness:" In all their affliction He was afflicted." Isaiah 63:9 It was based on this identification that HaShem acted compassionately and "brought forth Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror." Jeremiah 32:21