Question
Could Jews be sold as slaves?
Answer
During First Temple times, Jews could be sold as slaves for six-year periods (see Ex.21:2). In some cases they could serve longer (see Ex.21:5-6), but only until the Jubilee year (Lev.25:40). All slaves, especially free-born Hebrew slaves, had to be treated very well; it has been said (Kiddushin 20a) that “One who acquires a Hebrew slave is like one who acquires a master for himself”.
Best Regards,
Rabbi Azriel Schreiber