<HTML>In response to Jack Bieler's query re. eved kenaani. His questions are
very basic. I echo Shalom's response and only add a few brief points which
I always point out when teaching it.
First, slavery in general conjures up in our students' minds what we all
saw (and they probably didn't) in Roots. i.e.. beating, raping, killing
without a second thought (besides their monetary value) etc. The Torah
thousands of years ago was more moral and caring for slaves than the US
and its democratic principles were 150 years ago. =20
Second (although related), just read the Rambam in Hilchot Avadim to see
how careful one has to be with one=92s eved. When to feed him, what to fee=
d
him, where to house him, what kind of accommodations you must give him.=20
Thirdly, the whole idea of shen va'ayin testifies to the fact that beating
is unacceptable and if one engages in such behavior (in many cases) causes
one to forfeit ones eved. =20
I believe that the reason that only avadim kena'aniim go free with shen
va'ayin is that the Torah was more fearful of Jews mistreating their non
Jewish slaves than it was regarding Jewish slaves. It just felt that a
Jew would never think of hitting his fellow Jew. (halevai)
Another point is where they are headed. As you know an eved kena'ani is
half converted and has a special status in which he is obligated in most
mitzvot and when he is let free he becomes a full Jew. As much as I do
not believe that this is the best way to become a Jew, it is a step in a
positive spiritual direction.
Finally, Rabbi Eliach (I believe) once pointed out to me that a close
reading of the various texts on avadim in the Torah will reveal that the
Torah was very concerned about how they can go free and less concerned
with how to buy them.
I have not dealt with the idea of treating people like property which
might have been Jack's main question. However, I do believe that we need
to teach them a certain perspective of what kind of slave and attitude
towards them are simply not tolerated by the Torah.
________________________________
Rabbi Benjamin Kramer
Religious Studies Principal
Fuchs Bet Sefer Mizrachi, Cleveland Ohio</HTML>
