Torah and Technology Research Center
Artificial intelligence Halachic brainstorming session, June 2019. Photo credit: Jerusalem College of Technology.
Tackling tough questions at the intersection of innovation and religion
As technology continues to advance, many leaders within the Jewish Orthodox community struggle to answer questions regarding the application of Jewish law to modern technology. Questions range from whether or not it is permissible to ride an autopilot plane on Shabbat to whether or not cultured meat grown from cells of a pig can be kosher. Not only are these questions that have never been asked before, but many leaders lack the technological expertise to understand the full scope of these issues.
The Torah and Technology Research Center at the Jerusalem College of Technology aims to provide the specialized expertise necessary to respond to these complex halachic (Jewish law) issues. By fostering collaboration between experts in Jewish law, computer science, engineering, and health sciences, the Center is the first centralized authority to respond to questions regarding the Torah and modern technology for the international Jewish community.
Since 2019, the center has begun research on cultured meat and kashrut (Jewish dietary laws, and the basis for the kosher observance), smart security for religious institutions and communities on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and the halachic implications of virtual communication amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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