Leviticus 25:39 "You shall not compel him to work as a slave"

A Jewish person may have become a slave for one of two reasons:

A) He may have committed a theft, but had no means of returning what he had stolen. He was then sold into slavery by a Jewish court to repay the person he stole from. B) He may have offered himself for sale as a slave in desperation, because he could not support himself or family.

In both cases, the Torah instructs the master to educate the slave and help him overcome his weakness. The slave who stole will live in a proper Jewish home and will be inspired never to steal again.

The desperate slave will learn to have faith in HaShem and turn to Him in times of need. Thus, he will never lose trust again.

In this way, a Jew's service in slavery is more of an educational experience than mere hard labor.

The Torah encourages us to remember this and never to burden the slave with hard work that is not befitting for a Jew (See positive Mitzvah 232).