daf bit: Kiddushin 14

[cellio]

The mishna teaches: a Hebrew slave is acquired by money or by deed (I think this means by court sentence), and acquires himself (his freedom) by serving six years, by the occurrence of the Yovel (Jubilee) year, or by paying his pro-rated debt. It's easier for a Hebrew maidservant; she acquires herself by showing signs of puberty. (14b)

I had not previously known that women, as opposed to girls, could not be slaves (to Jews). Of course, that could be clarified somewhere in the g'mara that I'm not seeing here; there's a lot of g'mara...

(Today's daf is actually 15, but it's in the middle of an argument depending heavily on precise terminology, and I didn't think I could do it justice for the morning minyan.)

Comments

[zevabe.livejournal.com]

Much to do is made over when exactly the transaction occurs, because if there is a change between say, signing the contract and paying, it matters. One can buy a slave without a contract (using money), or sign a contract of slavery without money (assuming the slave is willing to be enslaved for free...unlikely but theoretically possible. The master does have to feed and clothe the slave, so it could make some sense. Also, if the master wanted to buy the slave before he has the money to buy him, he can acquire the slave before paying. Slavery doesn't require cash up front.)