ואתם עדיי נאם ה' ואני אל. תני ר' שמע' בן יוחי אם אתם עדי נאם ה', אני אל, ואם אין אתם עדיי כביכול אין אני ה'.
“You are my witnesses, and I am God” (Isaiah 43:12) Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai taught, “Only when you are my witnesses, I am God, but when you are not my witnesses, it is as if I am not God.”
[AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What does this text ask us to witness?
2. If one does not advocate on behalf of another, what happens to their relationship?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)