Q&A: Slavery
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Slavery
Question
We are in the Torah portion of Shoftim.
Why does the Torah give legitimacy to slavery??
True—there are many conditions… but why open the door to something immoral?
Did we learn nothing in Egypt?
Answer
There is no connection between Jewish law and morality. The fact that slavery is given legitimacy means that there is no halakhic prohibition against it. That does not mean it is moral. See Column 15.