JANUARY 26 • 2023 | 9

needs and emotions, and 
that answering halachic 
questions wouldn’t be any 
different. In many cases, 
artificial intelligence 
programs might even 
understand you better than 
you understand yourself. 
However, most of 
the other people who 
participated in this 
discussion felt otherwise. 
Rabbi Reuven Spolter 
(formerly of Young Israel 
of Oak Park) summed it 
up well: “Real psak is the 
application of halachah to a 
specific person in a specific 
situation. Halachah is a 
flexible code that adapts 
to different people, their 
needs and the specific 
situation that caused them 
to ask their question. It is 
also based on relationships. 
Only when a posek knows 
you and takes the time 
and effort to understand 
what’s motivating the 
question, can you obtain 
an appropriate halachic 
answer. And that is not 
something that an artificial 
intelligence program 
cannot fully duplicate.” 
What does ChatGPT 
itself think about whether 
it can answer halachic 
questions? A query to the 
AI program produced the 
following response: 
“As an artificial 
intelligence, I am not 
able to provide definitive 
answers to halachic 
(Jewish legal) questions. 
Halachah, or Jewish law, 
is a complex and nuanced 

area of study that requires 
in-depth knowledge and 
understanding of the Torah, 
Talmud and other Jewish 
legal texts, as well as the 
principles and guidelines 
that govern Jewish religious 
practice. 
“While I have been 
trained on a wide variety of 
texts and topics, including 
Jewish law and tradition, 
my knowledge is limited to 
what I have been trained 
on, and I do not have the 
ability to make judgments 
or provide definitive 
answers on halachic 
matters. I recommend 
consulting with a qualified 
rabbi or other religious 
authority for guidance on 
halachic matters.” 
Now that’s a pretty good 
answer — recognizing one’s 
limitations is definitely a 
strength! Maybe we shouldn’t 
be so quick to dismiss 
the applications of this 
remarkable new technology. 
The challenge for our 
rabbis and for our ourselves 
— as it has always been 
with any new technological 
advances we encounter — 
is to figure out the best 
ways to harness these 
exciting applications while 
remaining faithful to our 
history, traditions, customs 
and practices. 

Michael Feldstein, who lives in 

Stamford, Connecticut, is the found-

er and owner of MGF Marketing, a 

direct marketing consulting firm. His 

articles and letters have appeared 

in the Jewish Link, the Jewish Week, 

the Forward and the Jewish Press.

Save the Date

 Annual Dinner | March 26, 2023

@ CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

William Davidsonz”l

HONORING COMMUNITY LEADER

Ethan Davidson

AND CELEBRATING THE LEGACY

OF HIS FATHER

Linda Pedder
Staff Honoree

dinner23@farberhds.org

www.farberhds.org/giving/annual-event