[Avodah] Baruch Shelo Asani Eved

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

Galsaba asked:
> In birchot HaShachar, the phase "Baruch Shelo Asani
> Eved" does it refer to an Eved Kenani, or Eved Ivri?

And R"n Toby Katz asked a related question:
> If a Jew happens to find himself in a condition of
> slavery ... does he still say this bracha or does
> he skip it?

To which R' Simon Montagu responded:
> This question was asked in the Kovno Ghetto, and Rav
> Ephraim Oshry's psak was to say it.

I cannot pretend that I know Rav Oshry's reasoning, but to me, the logic is pretty simple, without even resorting to the logic of being obligated in mitzvos.

The bracha must refer to an Eved Kenaani. The proof is in the text of the bracha itself -- "He did not make me a slave" -- which refers to the status I had when I was made.

NO ONE comes into this world as an Eved Ivri. A Jew can be born free, and then get sold into being an Eved Ivri, but he is never a slave from the beginning.

Akiva Miller
_____________________________________________________________
Click to find local singles for dating, romance and fun
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3ngyDLvWPyjQK84kGoHPZsgbCe9JrwwtlmEmSgPNuAArHAx0/