Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Deuteronomy 15:13 mean when it says not to send a servant away empty-handed?
A: This verse teaches that when a Jewish servant completes their term of service (after six years, as mentioned earlier in the Torah), the master must give them gifts upon their release. Rashi explains this includes providing them with livestock, grain, and wine - enough to help them start their new life as a free person. This demonstrates kindness and fairness.
Q: Why is it important not to send a servant away empty-handed according to Jewish law?
A: The Rambam (Hilchos Avadim 3:14) explains this mitzvah prevents the former servant from falling into poverty immediately after gaining freedom. The Torah wants us to help others become self-sufficient. The Talmud (Kiddushin 17a) also connects this to remembering our own ancestors were slaves in Egypt, teaching us compassion.
Q: How much should a master give a servant when freeing them?
A: While the Torah doesn't specify an exact amount, the Talmud (Kiddushin 17a) states the master should give according to the servant's needs and the master's means. The Midrash (Sifrei) mentions giving at least enough to help the servant establish themselves - typically from your flock, threshing floor, and winepress as mentioned in the next verse (Deuteronomy 15:14).
Q: Does this law about not sending servants away empty apply today?
A: While the laws of Jewish servants don't practically apply today, the principle remains important. The Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 482) explains this teaches us the ethical obligation to help those transitioning to new circumstances - whether employees leaving a job, students finishing school, or anyone making a major life change. We should help provide what they need to succeed.
Q: What's the deeper meaning behind not sending a servant away empty?
A: The Kli Yakar explains this mitzvah teaches that true freedom requires the means to sustain oneself. Merely releasing someone isn't enough - we must ensure they can live independently. This reflects the Torah's view that economic opportunity is part of human dignity. The servant worked for years, so it's just to provide them with resources upon leaving.
Context and Source
The verse (Shemot 21:11) discusses the obligation of a master to provide for his Hebrew maidservant when setting her free. This is part of the Torah's broader laws concerning servitude and ethical treatment of those under one's authority.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi explains that the phrase "לֹא תְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ רֵיקָם" ("thou shalt not let him go away empty") means the master must provide her with a severance gift (severance or matanah). He cites the Talmud (Kiddushin 17a), which states that this gift should be from the master's livestock, grain, or wine cellar—items of value that enable her to begin her new life with dignity.
Rambam's Legal Perspective
In Hilchos Avadim (Laws of Servants 3:14), the Rambam codifies this obligation, ruling that the master must give the freed servant a gift commensurate with his means. This is derived from the Torah's emphasis on compassion and fairness, ensuring that the transition to freedom is sustainable.
Midrashic Insight
The Mechilta (a halachic Midrash on Shemot) connects this mitzvah to the Exodus from Egypt, where Hashem did not send Bnei Yisrael out empty-handed but granted them wealth from the Egyptians (Shemot 12:36). Just as Hashem acted with generosity, so too must we emulate His ways in our dealings with others.
Ethical and Halachic Implications