Pardes from Jerusalem
Pardes from Jerusalem
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Va’etchanan 5786: The Purpose of Prayer
39 minutes Posted Jul 19, 2026 at 1:57 pm.
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Show notes
What if the deepest purpose of prayer isn't to change God—but to change us?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Shmuel Rosenberg explore Parshat Va’etchanan through Moses’ heartfelt plea to enter the Land of Israel. Reflecting on unanswered prayer, they ask whether the deepest purpose of prayer is to change God's mind—or to change us. The conversation suggests that even when our hopes are unmet, prayer can deepen our relationship with God and help us embrace the path before us.