Unlike Jewish slaves, who are automatically freed after six years, gentiles who sell themselves into slavery are never released from servitude. "You shall have them serve you forever." (Lev. 25:46) Unless the slave has been mistreated, he may not be set free.

"Mitzvah d'Rabim"

There is, however, an exceptional situation that permits the owner to release his slave. This intriguing case sheds light on the overall function of slavery, and its place in history.

The Talmud relates that Rabbi Eliezer once entered a synagogue, only to discover that there were not enough Jews to comprise a prayer quorum (minyan). Rabbi Eliezer immediately freed his gentile servant (when freed, a slave becomes Jewish), so that the congregation could pray.

The Sages explained that, even though it is ordinarily forbidden to free slaves, one may do so for a mitzvah of the community ("mitzvah d'rabim").

Why does the Torah forbid owners from freeing gentile slaves? And why is it permitted for a communal mitzvah?

The Function of Slavery

For the past few hundred years, slavery has been widely recognized as a corrupt and immoral institution. This is true when the slave- owners are cruel individuals who are not concerned for the lives and welfare of their slaves. The Torah's concept of slavery, however, relates to owners who are moral and upright people. As long as there exist people who, due to inadequate sensitivities and psychological weaknesses, are base and unscrupulous, it makes sense to entrust their welfare and moral instruction to noble and exemplary individuals.

Yet, even this enlightened version of slavery was not intended for all times. Slavery will be annulled when "the land will be filled with awareness of God". When all the nations will "turn to call out in God's Name with a clear language", the institution of slavery will no longer be needed.

Until that future time, it is forbidden to free a gentile slave. Such an act implies that the Torah does not inculcate any superior ethical traits in those who keep its mitzvot, and the slave gains no moral benefit when guided by such a master.

Readiness to Fully Join Society

For a communal mitzvah, however, it is permitted to free a slave. This type of mitzvah is more than just a mitzvah performed by many individuals. Ordinarily, a mitzvah helps advance the perfection of an individual. A "mitzvah d'rabim", however, relates to the perfection of all creation. A communal mitzvah alludes to the future era, a time when there will no longer be wicked and corrupt people who require the framework of slavery to guard over them and guide them.

When all of humanity will strive to serve God and know His ways, slavery in its current form will no longer exist. Yet, just as we are thrilled to be of service to the righteous and wise, in the future there will also exist a form of voluntary servitude, when "ten men from all the languages of the nations will grab hold of the hem of a Jew, saying: We will go with you." (Zechariah 8:23) At that time, the individual will achieve perfection by assisting the rest of creation, and there will exist many forms of "mitzvah d'rabim", communal mitzvot that justify the release of slaves.

Even nowadays, we can explain that slavery is for self-centered people who only watch out for their own selfish needs and wants, even at the expense of others. When the slave is able to recognize that his own true success is dependent upon the success and prosperity of the community, he no longer needs this framework. Ordinarily, releasing a slave carries potential pitfalls, either for the slave himself or for his descendants. But a slave who yearns to assist the community is certainly ready to be freed. His engagement in a "mitzvah d'rabim" demonstrates his readiness to become a full member of society.

(adapted from Ein Eyah vol. II, pp. 214-5)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison