Faith And AI Hassidic Views Unveiled

The AI Boom And Early Hassidic Concerns

The digital landscape was irrevocably altered in November 2022 when OpenAI, a nonprofit organization, unveiled a free preview of ChatGPT. This singular event ignited a global fascination with generative AI, heralding the AI boom we are currently experiencing. The momentum continued, and by March 2023, OpenAI had launched its more advanced model, GPT-4, setting off an intense race for AI updates and innovation.

Amidst this technological whirlwind, the Beth Din Zedek of Chasidai Square, the rabbinic authority for Skver Hassidim responsible for matters of Jewish Law, was one of the first hassidic groups to address the burgeoning interest in AI. The Skver Hassidic movement has deep roots, originating from the Chernobyl Hassidic dynasty, which dates back to the early days of Hassidism and has spawned numerous hassidic courts. Originally from Skvyra in central Ukraine, the Skver community is now primarily based in New York, with its largest contingent led by Rabbi David Twersky in New Square, Rockland County.

Skver Hassidims Swift And Strict Prohibition

On April 27, 2023, as the festival of Shavuot approached, the Skver Beth Din issued a public statement carrying an urgent warning. They flagged what they termed “the new service ‘Open AI’ and the like,” accessible via computers, text messages, or even standard telephones.

An illustrative image of a robot dressed in the clothing of an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Photo credit: Shutterstock AI

The notice from Skver Beth Din highlighted a concern that not everyone might be aware of the “great danger” AI presented at that time. After investigating, they declared that “without a doubt, it is a terrible threat and great danger for all – old and young – may God have mercy.”

Understanding The Rationale Behind The Ban

The specific reasons for deeming OpenAI so perilous were not explicitly detailed in the warning. Given that AIs capabilities were not yet widely understood in early 2023, the religious courts alarm might seem puzzling at first. It appears the Skver Beth Din viewed AI as analogous to the Internet, rather than a fundamentally new type of tool. The court even referred to the service, in inverted commas, as “an open Internet without any filter.” This perception led them to conclude that AI was susceptible to all forms of depravities and heresies.

“It is therefore simple,” the notice stated, “that AI is included in ‘the grave prohibition’ against Internet without a filter that has been asserted by the great rabbis of the generation.”

For those who might only glance at the text, the notice proclaimed in large, bold letters: “The use of AI is utterly forbidden, in any way and form whatsoever, even via a telephone.” The statement concluded with a prayer for divine protection and sanctity, and bore seventeen signatures.

AI Responds And Filtered Alternatives Emerge

When a journalist asked ChatGPT (the AI model itself, not OpenAI) for its thoughts on the ban from Skver Beth Din, its response was measured. The AI acknowledged its inability to act against public criticism and contextualized the ban, stating, “The ban stems from concerns about the negative impact of technology on the lifestyle of the ultra-Orthodox. It is important to note that each community has the right to set its own guidelines and rules, and it is the decision of the individuals within the community whether to act on these guidelines.” ChatGPT also reiterated its purpose: “I exist solely as a tool to provide information and assistance to users, and I have no ability to make decisions or take actions that would cause controversy within a particular community or group.” While such responses are common now, Ynet, the online platform for Yedioth Aharonot, considered this exchange newsworthy back in 2023.

The hassidic communitys reaction to the ban was prompt. Within days, Moishy Goldstein, an enterprising Chabad hassid, created Kosher.Chat, a chatbot built on OpenAI but trained to be sensitive to the concerns from Skver Beth Din. Kosher.Chat was essentially a filtered version of ChatGPT. It was designed to avoid answering Torah-related questions, refrain from discussing zmanim (prayer times), and not provide authoritative statements on the Torahs stance on various issues. The chatbot also stated it would not give definitive halachic (Jewish law) answers, instead directing users to Chabad online resources. However, it was noted that Kosher.Chat would still provide answers when asked halachic questions.

Since 2023, other filtered large language models (LLMs) have appeared, including Kosher AI, KosherGPT, and RavGPT. A key question surrounding these models is the extent of rabbinic oversight and the specific standards by which they are deemed “kosher.” The common thread among these initiatives is the premise that unfiltered LLMs are considered treif, or forbidden.

A Mystical Perspective Klipat Noga And AIs Destiny

An alternative framework for understanding LLMs, rooted in hassidic thought, moves beyond the simple kosher/treif dichotomy. This approach involves the kabbalistic concept of Klipat noga, or “a glowing husk,” which is prominent in hassidic writings (see, for example, Tanya, Ch. 6-7, and Likkutei Moharan 1:19 and 82).

According to Jewish mystical tradition, klipot (“shells” or “husks”) represent darkness, impurity, and evil, obscuring the perception of divine presence in the physical world. Prohibited items in Jewish law, like pork – or LLMs according to the Skver Beth Din – are thought to draw their life force from these klipot and should be avoided entirely.

However, one particular klipa, klipat noga (“a glowing husk”), differs significantly. This shell possesses a mystically neutral quality; it can be utilized for holy purposes or, conversely, be deployed for evil. Everyday actions like eating, working, and speaking engage klipat noga. Abstractly, these acts have neutral spiritual significance. Their ultimate spiritual impact is determined by human choice: whether they are tainted with impurity or elevated to glow with sanctity.

From this viewpoint, LLMs could be seen as a classic example of klipat noga – a mere husk that is inherently neither good nor bad. AI has the potential to become a destructive force or a positive, constructive one that benefits humanity. The spiritual destiny of artificial intelligence, therefore, lies in human hands.

The writer is a senior faculty member at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Bar-Ilan University, and a rabbi in Tzur Hadassah.