Slavery

Found 14 Search results

1. The Enslavement of Israel and the Death Sentence for Newborn Boys

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   A close look at the enslavement of Am Yisrael in the opening chapters of Shemot, reveals that the story is told in two parallel parts, offering a contrast of the two types of edicts.

2. Slavery

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   Yirmiyahu does not dwell on the damning social issues of his generation; instead he focuses on idolatry and battles against those who leave God. What, then, is the reason behind the prophecy relating to slavery? This haftara demonstrates how the social issue of slavery is a sin against God: taking slaves is a flagrant violation of the unique covenant relating to slavery, and this is the reason behind the severe punishment.

3. Of Bags and Brothers (Audio)

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 24 minutes

   The brothers’ sacks should contain grain, or cash, but not both. When they find their money (which Yosef had slipped into the sacks) along with the grain in their sacks, they worry. What is Yosef doing? Does he wish to harshly punish, or to kindly provide a way to achieve atonement? Yosef ultimately demonstrates that pursuing morality trumps realizing dreams.

4. Yehuda's Plea and Its Audiences (Audio)

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 23 minutes

   Yehuda’s plea to the second-in-command of Egypt is reminiscent of Abraham’s prayer for justice. The tripartite structure of Yehuda’s plea includes appeals to mercy and to justice. But there is a third part which does not seem to belong - a spontaneous outburst about his father. What does this surprising addition reveal?

5. "'Zakhor' And 'Shamor' Were Uttered As One Word"

   Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

   Shabbat in the Ten Commandments in Shmot is linked to the Creation, but elsewhere in Shmot Shabbat is linked to the Exodus from Egypt. Shabbat in the Ten Commandments in Devarim is linked to the Exodus, and introduces new innovations. The central innovation is the presentation of the Exodus as the absolute source for the commandment of Shabbat.

6. The Amorality of Amalek

   Rabbi Alex Israel | 39 minutes

   Amalek is presented as an archetypal enemy, but what, precisely, is so objectionable about this nation? We look at how Amalek is described in the Torah, and in selected examples from Neviim Rishonim. We also examine the concept of “yirat Elokim”—fear of God as it pertains to our topic.

7. The Unique Perspective of Parashat Behar

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   What links Shmitta with Mt. Sinai? This lesson will discuss the unique perspective of Parashat Behar on a number of mitzvot that are also discussed elsewhere in the Torah.

8. Elisha – Prophet of Miracles

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Elisha is constantly performing miracles. His miracles span from practical assistance to individuals or small groups, to operating at the national level, alongside kings and armies. The miracle with the widow and the oil - whose children are on the verge of being sold into slavery - is reminiscent of and sharply contrasted to Eliyahu's miracle with the widow in Zarfat. Eliyahu and Elisha may differ in educational philosophy: What is the more effective educational method: the stick or the carrot, confrontation or encouragement? The difference between the two might be a function of the times in which they live and serve. In Eliyahu's period, under the reign of Ahav, Israel enjoy economic prosperity, wielding international power. Elisha's era, in contrast, is characterized by Aram's devastating oppression of the Northern kingdom. When the nation is under siege, what is required is support, inspiration and encouragement.

9. The Freeing of Slaves

   Rabbi David Sabato

   During the time of the Babylonian siege, the king and princes of Jerusalem decided to free all the slaves in a sweeping manner in order to alleviate the situation of the city under siege. However, as soon as the Babylonian army left Jerusalem and the siege was lifted, the motive for liberating the slaves was canceled, and the people therefore restored the slaves to their previous status.

   As opposed to the breach of the covenant in chapter 11 in which Yirmiyahu describes the violation of many many mitzvot, here only one mitzva is violated. Why were the people punished so severely for the violation of a single commandment?

10. Ending Liberty and Breaking the Covenant

    Rabbi David Sabato

11. God’s Nudge

    Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

    In Parshat Yitro there were the Aseret Hadibrot, the “ten utterances” or general principles. Now in Parshat Mishpatim come the details. They begin by outlining the laws of Hebrew servant.

    Why begin here? There are 613 commandments in the Torah. Why does Mishpatim, the first law code, begin where it does?

    The Israelites have just endured slavery in Egypt. It seems that this was the necessary first experience of the Israelites as a nation. From the very start of the human story, the God of freedom sought the free worship of free human beings. It took the collective experience of the Israelites, their deep, intimate, personal, backbreaking, bitter experience of slavery – a memory they were commanded never to forget – to turn them into a people who would no longer turn their brothers and sisters into slaves, a people capable of constructing a free society, the hardest of all achievements in the human realm. 

     

    This lecture is part of the Covenant & Conversation series.

    To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

12. God’s Nudge (Audio)

    Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | 7 minutes

    In Parshat Yitro there were the Aseret Hadibrot, the “ten utterances” or general principles. Now in Parshat Mishpatim come the details. They begin by outlining the laws of Hebrew servant.

    Why begin here? There are 613 commandments in the Torah. Why does Mishpatim, the first law code, begin where it does?

    The Israelites have just endured slavery in Egypt. It seems that this was the necessary first experience of the Israelites as a nation. From the very start of the human story, the God of freedom sought the free worship of free human beings. It took the collective experience of the Israelites, their deep, intimate, personal, backbreaking, bitter experience of slavery – a memory they were commanded never to forget – to turn them into a people who would no longer turn their brothers and sisters into slaves, a people capable of constructing a free society, the hardest of all achievements in the human realm. 

     

    This lecture is part of the Covenant & Conversation series.

    To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

13. Nehemya Fights for the Poor

    Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

14. Ki Tetze: Practical Mitzvot

    Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

    Parashat Ki Tetze has many commandments related to social interactions and social obligations toward others in society, especially the vulnerable. We explore practical applications of commandments such as the obligation to help with loading and unloading as they apply to drivers and groups of travelers or hikers and issues pertaining to interest on loans in the days of modern banking. We also explore the laws requiring one to help a fugitive slave, and other slavery-related laws and note the strikingly differences as compared to other systems law in the Ancient Near East, and as compared to the era of slavery in the United States of America.