[Avodah] Tzinius and the ILG

[Michael Kopinsky]

On 2/27/07, Chana Luntz <chana at kolsassoon.org.uk> wrote:
> ....  It has been argued, on this list
> and elsewhere, that this shows that the Torah is morally in favour of
> slavery, and that therefore any notions that we have that slavery is not
> necessarly moral are contrary to the moral compass of the Torah....
If I may modify that slightly: "any notions we have that slavery is
INHERENTLY immoral are contrary to the moral compass of the Torah."  I
think that the fact that the Torah permits slavery indicate that it is not
INHERENTLY problematic. Just like polygamy, there are times when slavery
is OK.  Both are unacceptable under certain circumstances, which is why
polygamy is assur, and slavery may as well be.  But there is not an
absolute moral value decrying either.  Murder, on the other hand, (if it
is actually murder, and not permitted killing) is absolutely immoral, and
no societal norms can EVER be machshir murder.