The Bondsman

The civil laws set forth in Parashat Mishpatim (Ex. 21:1–24:18) reveal that a holy nation is a just nation. The Torah Sages taught that a judge who rules honestly becomes a partner with HaShem in sustaining the world. Israel was to be a nation whose judges protected the rights of the victimized while also allowing restoration for the thief or for someone who had lived recklessly and incurred debt. Such a person could find renewal as a bondsman, serving a master for up to six years and going free in the seventh.

According to the Talmud (Kiddushin 14a), if a bondsman repaid his debt before the end of that period, he could be released early. The principle is simple: servitude exists to repay the debt, and once it is paid, the person regained his freedom.

The master, meanwhile, is also required to serve—as a moral guide who treats the bondsman as a member of the household—to the extent that the Sages taught:

“Whoever acquires a slave acquires a master for himself.”

The Torah’s system stands in sharp contrast to the soul-crushing experience of the modern penitentiary. Bondsmanship could also provide a path out of poverty, offering the stability and security of a functioning home. As Rav Kook taught, the bondsman under Torah law enjoyed not only financial security but also moral and spiritual mentorship. In the highest sense, this mirrors Israel’s relationship with HaShem: a nation seeking the guidance and security of a loving Creator.

A deeper connection to this master-servant relationship appears in the parsha’s mention of “…a paved brickwork like sapphire” seen by the elders of Israel at Sinai. Tradition recalls that Pharaoh initially tricked the Israelites into servitude by inviting them to participate in a national building project, even laying the first brick himself to marking it ceremonial and making it official. That brick signified the beginning of Israel’s enslavement. The sapphire brickwork revealed at Sinai, by contrast, marks Israel’s acceptance of a new Master—the compassionate Creator who treats them as members of His family.

When Moses reads God’s instructions to the people, they respond with one voice, “We will do, and we will hear!”

In doing so, Israel proved itself the true heir of Avraham Avinu, whose trust in HaShem never faltered. Israel understood that holiness is found in the doing—in everyday life as much as in moments of spiritual elevation. Whether addressing the theft of a cow or celebrating a joyous festival in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem, when Israel follows the entire divine plan called Torah, all of life becomes holy.