slavery
Slavery: the Mitzvah that Brings the Final Redemption
After being enslaved for several centuries, the subject of slavery was painfully personal for the Children of Israel. But slavery was an essential and common element of society in Biblical times so the Torah could not neglect it. If...
Why Was the Laver Made From the Mirrors of the Women?
At the beginning of the Torah portion of Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20), the Torah again described the materials that were collected for use in creating the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-9). In the case of the laver, the Torah even describes the...
Does God Allow Us to Own Slaves?
After leaving slavery in Egypt, the Torah outlines for the Hebrews strict guidelines for slavery. Slavery appears frequently in the Bible, sometimes in a positive light, as it does with Eliezer the slave of Abraham and the handmaidens...
The Portion of Mishpatim
This week’s portion leaves the narrative behind and focuses instead on Torah law. It deals extensively with case law between man and man, but also includes a number of laws between man and God. It is concerned with justice and righteous...
