Judaism Quote by Richard Elliott Friedman
““missîm. The term missîm in Hebrew refers to a sort of tax, not of money but of physical labor. Citizens owed a month of required work to the government each year.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Bible with Sources, Richard Elliott Friedman, 1987
The term “missîm” denotes a labor tax where citizens must provide a month of work to the state each year.
In simple terms: Labor tax requiring a month of work per year.
Key Takeaway
Recognize civic duties beyond monetary taxes.
Themes
civic duty
labor
taxation
community
historical law
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- public works
- military service
- infrastructure projects
- community service
- historical research
Key Concepts
Hebrew law
social contract
state obligations
Questions to Reflect On
- How would a labor tax affect modern society?
- What are the benefits of non‑monetary civic contributions?
A Different Perspective
Modern economies rely on monetary taxes, making labor taxes less common today.
