Dear Shalom,
It seems to me that at least some part of the discussion about avdut (if
not the entirety of it) really needs to be focused on the concept of
Ba'alut.
Avi Billet notes that the Torah's concept of Avdut bears no resemblance to
slavery. It is similarly true that the Torah's concept of Ba'alut bears
little resemblance to ownership. I have always understood (and taught it)
as much closer to "stewardship" implying a deep level of responsibility,
along with which must, of necessity, come some degree of control. This
has many, many ramifications, ranging from Man's Ba'alut over the earth
and its inhabitants, to Bnei Yisrael's Ba'alut over Eretz Yisrael, to the
"owner" of an Eved, and even the unusual use of the word Ba'al for a
husband (who is most certainly not an "owner" of his wife).
It is also notable that the other word used by Chazal for a "slave owner"
is Rav, which, again, has little to do with ownership or control, and
everything to do with guidance, caring, and responsibility.
For those of you who are science fiction readers, there is a great chapter
in the book Federation Worlds by James White that really uses /
illustrates this concept very well. I recommend it highly.
Elie Tuchman
Yeshiva at the Jersey Shore
