Parsha_Push Parshat Vayetze

How does one turn a person into a slave? From Rav Shabtai Rappaport, I learned that the difference between a slave and an ordinary worker is when payment is received. A regular worker works and receives his salary at the end. In contrast, payment is made upfront for a slave and from then on, he is obligated to work to repay the debt, a commitment that creates ownership by the payer over the slave.
A worker can forgo their guaranteed salary and stop working. Nothing compels him/her to work except themselves. In contrast, a slave’s obligation is much greater because he must work to repay the money already received (or received on his behalf). This is why according to Jewish law, “a worker can withdraw halfway through the day” to prevent one becoming a slave.
Of course, there is a difference in the nature of work – between work driven by desire and hope versus work arising from necessity without horizon. [There is also a certain circularity, because even if a slave completes his period of slavery, he will be left with nothing and might sell himself again to keep his head above water].
When Jacob arrives at Laban’s house, he offers to “work towards” something, namely towards a wife, with his wages effectively being the bride price of the woman he wishes to marry. Working towards a goal causes time to pass quickly, as if it were just “a few days.” But Laban tricks Jacob. After marrying him to Leah, he ensures Jacob marries Rachel “on account.” So, towards Leah, he worked like a regular worker. But his marriage to Rachel turned him into a slave. He received compensation upfront and was now bound to work.
Defining Jacob as a slave allowed Laban to say: “The daughters are my daughters, the sons are my sons, the flock is my flock, and everything you see is mine.” Once Jacob became a slave, his economic freedom and independence were taken away.

But Jacob ensures he won’t remain beyond six more years (equivalent to six years of a Hebrew slave) and that this time – with God’s help – he will succeed in taking some fruits of the blessing he brought to Laban’s house. Indeed, God saw Jacob’s affliction, and he too left with great wealth: “Were it not for the God of my father Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, you would now have sent me away empty-handed.” Jacob left as a worker with wages, not as an enslaved servant.
Just as it was important for Jacob to leave as a free man, with his wages in hand, So God will make sure His people leave the land of Egypt as a free people, not leaving empty handed. But the cycle doesn’t end here. Later on, God will expect of us to release our brothers from slavery after six years, and make sure they too do not leave empty handed.