Mishpatim: A Slave to the World Around Us

How can you think outside yourself? Is it possible to take a step away from your own experiences - from your upbringing, your environment, your personal history, and your values - and view the world objectively? I think it's

a pretty daunting task, and sometimes it can even feel impossible. We are all products of this planet in a particular moment in history, and it's hard to shed that. Even the Bible betrays a worldview that is specific to its time in human history. And if we believe that God wrote the Bible, it is surprising to find it so tied to the issues of its day - for example, slavery - and unable to take a more universal approach. Then again, who really still argues that God wrote the Torah?

This week, I am taking my Torah commentary inspiration from one of the greatest rabbis of the past century, who died last week in Toronto. Rabbi Gunther Plaut was one of the leaders of the Reform Movement, and the author of a really phenomenal volume entitled, The Torah: A Modern Commentary. In addition to being a book I

draw from constantly in my rabbinate, Plaut's commentary was also the first Judaica gift I received from my father, so it holds special sentimental value for me as well. Plaut reflects on the issue of slavery, featured highly in our parasha, Mishpatim. He writes, "The Torah treats the institution [of slavery] as an established fact of civilization and looks to its melioration rather than its abolition." The Torah knows slavery exists. It's just a fact of life (in the Ancient World), it ain't going anywhere. So rather than rail against it as amoral or cruel, it sets about 'humanizing' it, as Plaut suggests. It assumes you HAVE slaves; now the Torah works on teaching you how to treat the ones you've got.

Two things fascinate me about this observation. 1) The Torah is indeed a product of its time. The idea that slavery would be abolished was unimaginable to the Biblical authors! 2) Despite this, somehow it manages to begin the process of questioning the institution of slavery. Plaut points out that the Torah

is clearly conflicted about the slave being BOTH someone's possession, and a human being with rights of his/her own. In addition, the Torah indicates that female serfs have legal privileges as well; something that was surely revolutionary in its day! Perhaps most fascinating of all, Plaut explains that, "the Bible does not have a specific word for the totally unfree person." The Hebrew word for 'slave' is 'eved.' This word, however, is also used to describe us, every Jew, who is a 'servant of God,' 'eved Adonai.' The same word is also employed by individuals wishing to seem humble or deferential, introducing themselves to one another as, 'your servant.' The term 'eved' never really refers to someone who is totally destitute, who has no chance of ever rising above her/his lowly station. This too is a remarkable statement about status and social mobility.

This whole business of slavery in the Torah teaches us two things, though they may be at odds with one another. On the one hand, we shouldn't be so intolerant of people who don't change fast enough for our liking. We are all products of the world we grew up in, so it IS

hard for some people to accept new technology, environmental sensitivity, or even major issues like gay marriage. Even the Bible was somewhat stuck in the mindset of an ancient society, and it accepted slavery's existence without ever pushing for its abolition. On the other hand, change is possible. The world accepted things that are unthinkable today, when once they seemed as natural as breathing air. If we believe in a cause, we shouldn't ever be discouraged, just because someone tells us it's never been done, or people are fine with the status quo, or why fix something that isn't broke. Change can happen.

One final thought. I believe the Bible was written by human beings like you and me. That's why slavery is just accepted as a matter-of-fact. Yet throughout the text,

something doesn't seem right. A quiet, but firm objection nags at you, and leaves you very uncomfortable with slavery as a whole. To me, that is God. Subtly, almost invisibly, God leads us away from our misguided practices, and shows us a better way to live. You can't always see it, it's purposely understated, and you might even think you got there on your own. But you didn't, not entirely. You were brought there, and thank God for that. Literally!

Photos in this blog post:  

1. Image courtesy of Rabbi Gerber and a mystery hand...

2. Image courtesy of Rabbi Gerber, and his second edition copy of the Plaut commentary.

3. CC image courtesy of Vectorportal on Flickr  

4. CC image courtesy of Ava Weintraub Photography on Flickr

5. CC image courtesy of HikingArtist.com on Flickr