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Why did Moshe pray for Yehoshua before sending him with the spies? The Targum says it was because of Yehoshua's humility, but humility seems like a strength, not a weakness. The shiur explains that while humility enables Torah (תורה) greatness, it also makes leaders vulnerable to peer pressure - as seen when Rabbi Zechariah ben Avkulas's excessive humility caused the Churban.
The shiur examines the Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel's explanation of why Moshe renamed Hoshea as Yehoshua before sending him with the spies. The Targum states that when Moshe saw Yehoshua's humility (anavtanuso), he prayed for divine protection. This raises a fundamental question: why would humility, typically considered a virtue, require special divine intervention? Rabbi Zweig develops this theme through a sobering example from Gittin regarding the destruction of the Second Temple. The Gemara (גמרא) recounts how Bar Kamtza, seeking revenge after public humiliation, convinced the Roman emperor that the Jews were rebelling by sending a sacrifice with a hidden blemish. When the sacrifice arrived at the Temple, the kohanim faced a dilemma: they could not offer a blemished sacrifice according to Jewish law, but rejecting it would confirm Bar Kamtza's claim of rebellion.
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Why does the red heifer law create an apparent contradiction where those who purify others become impure themselves? The Parah Adumah represents God's kiss - creating necessary separation so we feel independent and valued rather than consumed by His presence.
Why was Moshe punished for hitting the rock instead of speaking to it? Both produce miraculous water for millions. The deeper issue wasn't thirst but insecurity about water supply after Miriam's death. Speaking to the rock would have taught that nature itself responds to Jewish needs, providing true security rather than a temporary fix.
Parshas Shelach - naming of Yehoshua
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