The laws of redeeming land prior to the Jubilee year are based on the principle given two verses ago (Leviticus 25:23): “The land must not be sold [in such a way as] to sever it [permanently from its original owner], for the land belongs to Me.” The prohibition of a permanent sale reminds us that the land ultimately belongs to G‑d; we should never consider ourselves its true owners.
The same applies to whatever wealth or property we may accrue during our lifetimes. “The earth and its fullness are G‑d’s.”1 We should never lose sight of the fact that G‑d has given us whatever we possess only as His partners, in order to refine it, elevate it, and transform it into His true home.2
Join the Discussion