People use the phrase "slavery" based on the modern knowledge of slavery
in the United States before the Civil War (and in the Sudan today). This
is not the "slavery" which the Torah refers to. A slave could not be
treated as a chattel lacking all human rights. If a person had one
mattress it went to the slave. A slave owner was limited in the type of
work a slave could be given. The Torah explicitly states that a
(non-Jewish) slave who runs away from a cruel or abusive master (outside
Eretz Yisroel) is not to be turned over to him. Kidnapping a person to be
a slave is against both the Torah and the Sheva Mitzvos Bnai Noach. A
slave is "half a Jew" and one who becomes free is as much a Jew as any
other ger (convert).
| Hillel (Sabba) Markowitz | Im ain ani li, mi li? |
| H.E.Markowitz@hrb.com | V'ahavta L'raiecha kamocha |