Derasha 3 on Behar 25:23

Parashas Behar · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 25:23

The Complete Passuk

וְהָאָ֗רֶץ לֹ֤א תִמָּכֵר֙ לִצְמִתֻ֔ת כִּי־לִ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֧ים וְתוֹשָׁבִ֛ים אַתֶּ֖ם עִמָּדִֽי׃

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Torat Kohanim).

Core Text — Sifra

כִּי גֵרִים וְתוֹשָׁבִים אַתֶּם עִמָּדִי. עִמִּי אַתֶּם, וּמַה אֲנִי בַּשָּׁמַיִם כָּךְ אַתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ.

English: “For you are strangers and residents with Me.” You are with Me; just as I am in the heavens, so you are on the earth.

Classical derasha (Sifra).

Israel’s status as sojourners is shared with the Divine Presence; the relationship is one of partnership under God’s ultimate ownership.