Dear Rabbi Simon
Isלעשות לך רב a rabbinical injunction and if so, what is your view on this Rabbi AI invention? Should people really be consulting Artificial Intelligence for matters of Torah, Jewish Law, Philosophy, etc.?
I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
Abraham Isaac
Dear AI
Thank you for your question.
The mishneh (Avot 1:6) says aseh lekha rav, “accept a teacher upon yourself”. This is advice/encouragement rather than an injunction, but I agree that AI cannot take the place of a Rav, for multiple reasons. For one thing, its Jewish and halakhic responses–though at a glance, seemingly well-informed–are frequently unsophisticated and riddled with errors and misunderstandings.
For another, the answer is not customized to the needs, background and circumstances of the enquirer. In the rabbinic field we say, “don’t just answer the question; answer the questioner”. AI does not and cannot do this. In a similar vein, there are frequently clarifications in understanding the question which a rabbi will seek in order to understand the circumstances and provide appropriate halakhic guidance. Again, AI is unlikely to provide this service. In brief, asking/discussing a question with a rav is more than just an exercise in acquiring information–as with knowledge from a book or consulting an actuarial table. There needs to be a human component.
In sum: AI can be a valuable tool, but it must be used with wisdom and prudence. As my friend and mentor Rabbi Michel Twerski (Milwaukee Rebbe) once said, “there is no technology of the spirit”.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon