But there is still a common thread between the two which bothers me very
much emotionally. And that is the concept of *ownership*. (The religion
of any particular being is irrelevant to this point, so don't confuse
the issue by getting into the different types of slaves.) I just don't
get it. How can one human being be the personal property of another
human being? And there are various examples of this, ranging from the
law about the slave's children remaining with the master rather than the
father, to how objects found by the slave become property of the master
simply because the slave is also property of the master.
This concept of "ownership" is what distinguishes a slave from an
employee. How can a person sell himself? Suppose someone is in debt, or
had stolen and needs to pay it back. Why must he sell himself? Why can't
he just offer himself as an employee for the same price, same length of
time, and same conditions of employment? Why is that insufficient, that
he must also sell his body?
Intellectually, I know that this is okay, because HaShem says it's okay.
But it is still difficult emotionally. If anyone can offer some help in
this regard, please drop a line.
Akiva Miller
kgmiller@datacorinc.com (nee keeves@aol.com)