Shaliah

In Jewish law, a shaliaḥ (Hebrew: שָלִיחַ‎, [ʃaˈliaχ]; pl. שְלִיחִים‎, sheliḥim [ʃliˈχim] or sheliah, literally "emissary" or "messenger") is a legal agent. Accordingly, a shaliaḥ performs an act of legal significance for the benefit of the sender, as opposed to him or herself. It is a Hebrew term comparable to the Greek word ἀπόστολος (apostolos, whence the English "apostle").

This article is about the Jewish legal term. For the article discussing emissaries of Chabad, see Shaliach (Chabad).

Terminology

The legal agent is referred to by the terms שָלִיחַ‎ (shaliach) and שׇׁלוּחַ‎ (shaluach), both of which mean "one who is sent". The person whom the agent is representing is known as the meshaleach (מְשַׁלֵּחַ‎) or as the sholeach (שׁוֹלֵחַ‎), both of which mean "one who is sending". The concept of agency overall or the status of being a shaliach is known as shlichut (שְׁלִיחוּת‎).[1]

Biblical sources

The term does not occur in the Bible as a noun,[2] though the verb lishloach ("to send") is frequently used to describe sending a messenger or agent.[3]

The first shaliaḥ inferred in the Bible is the servant in Genesis 24 who was sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac (according to the rabbis, this servant was named Eliezer).

In halakha

The Talmud learns from Numbers 18:28 that any Jewish male or female may appoint an agent, as can servants and maidservants working under a Jew's care. A shaliaḥ however, may only be appointed for a mitzvah or other halakhic Jewish legal affairs that he or she is obligated in.[4]

Mitzvot that are performed on one's own body, such as wearing tefillin, cannot be performed on one's own behalf by a shaliah.

Many of the halakhic Jewish legal affairs that may be performed through a shaliah:

  • A man may appoint a shaliah to betroth a woman on his behalf. A woman may choose to accept betrothal through a shaliah.
  • A husband may appoint a shaliah to deliver a get to his wife. A wife may choose to appoint a shaliah to receive it.
  • A salesman may appoint a shaliah to purchase or sell merchandise on his or her behalf. Similarly, any act of legal acquisition or transfer of ownership may be effected by a shaliah, such as giving a gift or acquiring a found object.
  • A person may appoint a shaliah to separate terumot and maaserot on his behalf.
  • One who assists in the performance of the rite of Jewish circumcision by holding the child upon his knees is called a shaliah or godfather.[5]
  • One who in a measure takes the place of the father, interesting himself in the child's welfare is called a shaliah.[5]
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See also

References
  1. Levinthal 1922, p. 125.
  2. Wilhelm Schneemelcher, Robert McLachlan Wilson New Testament Apocrypha: Writings relating to the Apostles- 2003 - 0664227228 Page 7. The adjectival noun Απόστολος occurs in LXX only in a single passage, as a translation of the Hebrew shaluach (passive participle of shalach - 1 Kings 14:6)."
  3. Dictionary - Mikraot Gedolot - AlHaTorah.org
  4. See Gittin 23b
  5. "The godfather became known in medieval times by many names in addition to the ancient designation of "sandek." He is called "ba'al berit" (master of the covenant), "ba'al berit ha-milah" (master of the covenant of circumcision), "ṭofes ha-yeled" (holder of the child), "ab sheni" (second father), and also "shaliaḥ" (messenger) (..) Primarily, one who assists in the performance of the rite of circumcision by holding the child upon his knees; secondarily, one who in a measure takes the place of the father, interesting himself in the lad's welfare." "GODFATHER". JewishEncyclopedia.com. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  •  Dembitz, Lewis N. (1901). "Agency, Law of". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. 1. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. pp. 232–233.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ettinger, Shimshon (2012). "Agency". In Ben-Menahem, Hanina; Edrei, Arye; Hecht, Neil S. (eds.). Windows onto Jewish Legal Culture: Fourteen Exploratory Essays. Vol. 2. Taylor and Francis. pp. 150–195. ISBN 0415500494.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Levinthal, Israel Herbert (1922). "The Jewish Law of Agency". The Jewish Quarterly Review. 13 (2): 117–191. doi:10.2307/1451278. ISSN 0021-6682.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Rakover, Nahum; Wygoda, Michael (2007). "Agency". In Skolnik, Fred; Berenbaum, Michael (eds.). Encyclopaedia Judaica. Volume 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. pp. 449–454.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Simmons, L. M. (1896). "The Talmudical Law of Agency". The Jewish Quarterly Review. 8 (4): 614–631. doi:10.2307/1450198. ISSN 0021-6682.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wygoda, Michael (2003). "On the relationship between the capacity to perform a legal task and the capacity to appoint an agent to perform it". In Lifshitz, Berachyahu (ed.). The Jewish Law Annual, Vol. XIV. Routledge. pp. 315–350. ISBN 0415309131.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wygoda, Michael (2009). "The Agent who Breaches his Principal's Trust". In Lifshitz, Berachyahu (ed.). The Jewish Law Annual, Vol. XVIII. Routledge. pp. 265–315. ISBN 0203855248.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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