Parshas Mishpatim: Treating Everyone Well

Most of us have heard of the “Stockholm Syndrome.”  This is when captors or prisoners begin to identify with their assailants, even to the point of rejecting their freedom or defending their abusers.  It is Stockholm Syndrome that keeps people in abusive relationships, so it is not as uncommon as it might seem.

In this week’s parsha, we read about what is to be done to a Jewish slave if he/she refuses to go free.  This seems irrational.  Why would someone not want to go free when offered their freedom?

At first one might think this is yet another example of the Stockholm Syndrome.  These slaves have, as a coping mechanism, begun to identify with their masters in such a way that they no longer value freedom.

Yet, this is not the reason for this behavior in the Torah.  Torah laws mandate that slaves must be treated well.  In some parts of the world, slaves are locked in small rooms and made to sleep on hard floors. (Sadly, slavery does still exist.)  They are beaten and are not allowed to communicate with their families.  Not so in Judaism!  Yes, slavery is allowed, but it is not the barbaric kind of slavery of which we hear so many tales.  Jewish law has no jails, so sometimes slavery was an appropriate way for a person to right the wrongs they have done.

In Judaism, even slaves must be treated with dignity and respect.  They are not beaten or abused.  They are given a comfortable place to sleep and good food to eat. Indeed, if a master has only one pillow, he must give it to his slave!

The lives of Jewish slaves, although made to work, was undoubtedly much, much better than being placed in the penal systems of today.  Today, prisoners in jails are only allotted a few hours of outdoor recreational time (if they are lucky!).  Prisoners who are on good behavior are allowed to work as a reward.  Being locked in a cell all day with nothing to do may sound restful and relaxing for a few days, but soon both mind and body begin to itch for something more to do.  Prisoners today come out of jail with a stigma that makes it hard for them to find work, even if they have attended educational services while incarcerated.

Jewish slaves, on the other hand, would have had no stigma once freed.  They could move to another city and nobody would be checking their criminal record.  They could start a new life.  And what’s more – they spent their time as a slave doing things.  They felt needed.  They might even have learned some new skills!  So slaves, once freed, were able to be even more valuable members of society than they were when they first entered slavery.

Being a Jewish slave would have been a relatively comfortable life.  Sure, the work was hard and long, but then again, many professions require long hours of hard work.  Slaves would not have needed to worry about where their next meal was coming from or how to pay the mortgage.  And they would have been treated nicely, with dignity and respect from their masters.  Once out in the wide world, there are no guarantees.  They might not have a job, they might live in poverty, they might have to beg.  For some, life as a slave was definitely preferable.

And if we as Jews have to treat our slaves so well, then how much more so does this show us we must treat all human beings with dignity and respect, compassion and care.  No matter what another person’s life history, background, or position in society, we must always show them this kind of respect and love.

Shabbat shalom!

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