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None of my Jewish friends are Orthodox, but these friends tell me that the civil rules for handling food, for preventing/containing disease, and for sexual purity are to preserve Israel from degradation and decay and to have a high order of community health. Many spiritual principles are suggested: Israel was to be different from surrounding nations (the pagan nations); it was (and we are) to be different morally and spiritually from unbelievers around us. A healthy environment and a healthy body make our service to God more effective. (I don't believe I said that sanitation was the primary reason for these laws.)

Please show me where the Bible explicitly condones slavery (other than as explained in a previous post).

>>"You might well argue that these situations no longer exist, but people, in my opinion, have not changed enough so that slavery was once a good thing."<<

I truly don't know what you mean by that and would be interested to have you explain.

>>"A lot of trouble could have been saved by adding an eleventh commandment when the chance was available."<<

You'll have to take that up with God; I'm assuming He thought the 10 He gave us were enough.

"Please show me where the Bible explicitly condones slavery "

Exodus 21:20
"If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished,
(Whole Chapter: Exodus 21 In context: Exodus 21:19-21)

Exodus 21:21
but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.
(Whole Chapter: Exodus 21 In context: Exodus 21:20-22)

Exodus 21:32
If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels [ 21:32 That is, about 12 ounces (about 0.3 kilogram) ] of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull must be stoned.
(Whole Chapter: Exodus 21 In context: Exodus 21:31-33)

Leviticus 19:20
" 'If a man sleeps with a woman who is a slave girl promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed.
(Whole Chapter: Leviticus 19 In context: Leviticus 19:19-21)

Leviticus 22:11
But if a priest buys a slave with money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food.
(Whole Chapter: Leviticus 22 In context: Leviticus 22:10-12)

Leviticus 25:44
" 'Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
(Whole Chapter: Leviticus 25 In context: Leviticus 25:43-45)

Leviticus 25:46
You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.
(Whole Chapter: Leviticus 25 In context: Leviticus 25:45-47)