[Avodah] Being an Eved to an Eved

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' Zev Sero answered my question:

> However, note that lechatchila one may not sign even an employment
> contract for more than 3 years, because it's most of the term of a
> 6-year avdus and transgresses "ki li benei yisrael avadim".

THIS goes directly to the heart of what I was asking. Thanks you very much, R' Zev. (Do you know offhand where you heard or saw this?)

Akiva Miller

PS:

Prior to my posting the question, I asked around, and the general response I got was along the line of, "Even with a very benevolent master and excellent working conditions, an Eved Ivri's time is not his own, and that is what makes him an eved, rather than a mere employee." That got me to thinking about other sorts of employment where one's time is not his own. For example, we have mentioned here that although in general halacha recognizes "at-will" employment, where either the employer or employee can terminate at any time, there are certain situations where the employee cannot leave in the middle of a project, for safety or other reasons.

But I think an even better example would be volunteering for military service. (For the sake of argument, let's says that it is the army of a benevolent, non-Jewish, malchus shel chesed.) Am I correct that even one who enters such a military, even with the privileges of an officer -- a chaplain for example? -- must still accept that there will be periods or training during which his time is not his own? I was trying to distinguish this from the Eved Ivri, and R' Zev Sero's response fits the bill very well.

____________________________________________________________
53 Year Old Mom Looks 33
The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/4f3bd3b3b8047125f1fest01vuc