Not unlike other Greek philosophers, Aristotle believed there were vastly different categories of people. To take the most extreme example, true slaves were seen as being born with an inability to ever develop their intellects. Hence, the idea of learning something from them, in the sense of listening to their ideas, made about as much sense as learning from animals.

That this is not so in Judaism is not only seen from Ben Zoma’s theoretical teachings but even more so from its actual practice by the illustrious Rabban Gamliel. As is well known, he had a slave, Tavi, from whom he and other sages would learn various laws. Granted, this is not an indication that this was the norm, but it serves as a powerful illustration of the fluidity of personal status in Jewish thought, that no one was automatically disqualified. To read the rest of the article published in the Jewish Press on Jan 23, 2025, click here.