23 Adar I, 5774 (2/23/14) – Sukkah#20 {Eliezer}

R’ Gamliel said: His slave used to sleep under a bed in the Sukkah (which negates being in a Sukkah) because Aved K’nanim do not have Mitzvah of Sukkah. Time bound Mitzvos women are exempt from and these slaves have same exemptions. Why? We equate bill of emancipation to a bill of divorce, with common word “Lah” used in both contexts in the Torah (Kiddushin 23a). GM’ Chagigah 4a extends this comparison to obligations of Mitzvot. Rambam (MT Hagigah 2:1) also rules this way.

(Rabbi Yitzchok Etshalom: http://www.torah.org/learning/rambam/kriatshema/ks4.1.html )

Why should slaves have this ruling? Perhaps, because they are entering into Judaism for a temporary time. Converted then Unconverted. Women do not have the obligation of Time Bound commandments because they are inherently infused with physical and spiritual time connectedness. Jewish men however, need to work on these aspects to attain that level. Non-Jewish slaves (who knowingly will only be temporarily Jewish) are not encouraged to try to attain this ultimate level of closeness to G-d, which was saved for His covenant w/ full fledged Jews.

E’s Lesson: Appreciate every opportunity and commandment we have to get close to G-d (others don’t even get the opportunity!) because He cherishes when we do them.