Exodus 21:2 "If you buy a Hebrew slave"

It may happen that out of sheer desperation or weakness of character, a person may commit a robbery.

He is obligated to return what he stole in addition to paying a fine.

But what if he no longer possesses the stolen article or doesn't have the money to pay for it?

In such a case, the court sells him as a slave and payment from his "sale" goes towards paying back the theft.

Another type of Jewish slave is a person who is so poor that he sells himself as a slave.

The Torah also allows for the possibility of a Jewish maidservant (a woman slave).

The Torah instructs us how a master must treat a Jewish slave.

Our Sages said: "Whoever buys a Jewish slave, buys himself a master."

Besides caring for his welfare and respecting his legal rights, the master must try to educate his servant.

By serving in a proper Jewish household, the slave who has robbed will learn to mend his ways. The Torah atmosphere of the home will teach the slave who has sold himself for lack of self-support to trust HaShem.

In this way, slavery can also be an educational experience helping the slave become a better person and it is hoped that he will follow a proper Jewish lifestyle upon his release.

This Positive Mitzvah involves the many laws applying to the Jewish slave or maidservant.