Shlach 5786: Faith and Failure
From Pardes from Jerusalem by Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
June 8, 2026 · 31 min
About this episode
The episode explores the balance between caution and courage through the story of the spies in Parshat Shlach and its historical implications.
How do we know when caution is wisdom—and when it’s holding us back? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy explore the story of the spies in Parshat Shlach and its connection to Tisha B’Av. Reflecting on the people’s fear of entering the Land of Israel, they examine the tension between caution and courage, realism and hope. Drawing connections to later moments in Jewish history, including the Bar Kokhba revolt, the conversation asks how we balance honest assessment with the faith and confidence needed to move forward.
People in this episode
Guests: Zvi Hirschfield, Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy
Topics covered
- faith
- failure
- caution
- courage
- Jewish history
- Tisha B'Av
- Parshat Shlach
Keywords
- faith
- failure
- caution
- courage
- Tisha B'Av
- Bar Kokhba
- Jewish history
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Parshat Shlach
Places: Land of Israel
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