The word nichmar stems from the root mem' chaf' resh' מ'כ'ר) ) which means to warm up ( Lamentations 5:10, Kings I 3:26) in our case, it refers to the warming of one's heart. After seeing pictures of Sudanese refugees one hardened reported had tears in his eyes. When asked about it he said simply-

"ראיתי את התמונות וליבי פשוט נכמר " Raiti et haTemunot ,v'libi pashut nichmar.

I saw the pictures my I was just overcome with compassion.

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