Slavery

Question

Hi, from where in the Torah or oral Torah we find that we have to live with the time? And slavery is no longer allowed regardless if it is a Jewish slave or not. Thanks, Jonathan.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    It is certainly a pertinent question. Rabbi S. R. Hirsch, One of the greatest Jewish philosophers and educators from a few generations ago, explains in his commentary on the Torah, Exodus 12:44, that a Jew cannot turn another human being into a slave. Rather, it is permissible for a Jew to buy a slave only if he is recognized as a slave according to international laws. Rabbi Hirsch further writes that the only hope that a slave has is to be bought by a Jew, as slaves are completely vulnerable to the powers of those who own them. It is only in a Jewish home that ownership of a non-Jewish slave is governed by Laws of the Torah, and that a non-Jewish slave can find sanctuary.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team