Slavery

Each year, at פרשת משפטים, the subject of the Torah allowing and regulating slavery troubles many of us. While this issue is clearly bigger than can be adequately addressed in a blog post, here are a couple of notes. First, just because the Torah allows something, doesn't mean that it endorses it. There some things that are permitted, but are still considered to be a bad idea. For example, we all know that polygamy is permitted by Torah law, but what is its attitude towards polygamy? Being that every case in Tanach (am I missing any?) in which we learn about a man marrying multiple wives ends badly, I don't think we should consider that an endorsement.

Another idea to consider is one that I found from Rav Kook. Don't worry, it's not very long.

While neither of these fully address this complicated issue, to me they are a starting point in trying to better understand the Torah's position.