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Why did Moshe pray only for Yehoshua and not all the spies? The shiur develops a principle about when prayer for others is legitimate. We can pray to protect someone from external pressures and cultural influences, but not to alter their free will choices.
This shiur explores the complex issue of praying for others through the lens of Parshas Shelach. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the mitzvah (מצוה) of tzitzis and Rashi (רש"י)'s explanation that "the eye sees, the heart desires, and the body commits sin," noting an apparent contradiction with the Torah (תורה)'s order of "heart and eyes." The main focus shifts to why Moshe prayed specifically for Yehoshua among the spies. The Targum Yonatan explains that Moshe saw Yehoshua's modesty and prayed for him accordingly. This raises the fundamental question: when is it appropriate to pray for someone else's spiritual welfare?
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Parshas Shelach - Bamidbar 15:39, 13:16
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