In November 2022, OpenAI – a nonprofit organization – released a free preview of ChatGPT. This triggered widespread interest in generative AI and led to the ongoing AI boom.
By March 2023, OpenAI released its new model, GPT-4 – and the update race began in earnest.
One of the first hassidic groups to respond to the rapid growth in AI interest was the Beth Din Zedek D’Chasidai Square – the rabbinic body of Skver Hassidim responsible for Jewish Law.
Skver Hassidism comes from the Chernobyl Hassidic dynasty. Chernobyl traces its lineage back to the earliest days of the hassidic movement, and this dynasty begat many hassidic courts. Skver is originally from Skvyra in central Ukraine; today it is based in New York. The largest branch is led by Rabbi David Twersky (born 1940) and is based in New Square, Rockland County, New York.
On April 27, 2023, in the lead-up to the festival of Shavuot, the Skver Beth Din issued a public statement that included an urgent warning against what it called “the new service ‘Open AI’ and the like, which could be used via computer, or through text [perhaps meaning phone text], or even through a simple telephone.”
ChatGPT (credit: PR)
The notice alerted readers that it was possible that not everyone was aware of the “great danger” that AI poses now. The Skver Beth Din explained that it had investigated the matter and established that “without a doubt, it is a terrible threat and great danger for all – old and young – may God have mercy.”
The warning does not explicitly say why OpenAI was deemed so dangerous. At this early stage, its capabilities and potential were not widely known, so at first blush it is not immediately apparent why the religious court was so alarmed.
It seems that the Skver Beth Din assumed that AI was something akin to the Internet rather than a radically different tool. Indeed, the court called the service “an open Internet without any filter,” though those words appeared in inverted commas. Given that AI was perceived as filterless Internet, the court charged that it was open to all kinds of depravities and heresies.
“It is therefore simple,” continued the notice, “that AI is included in ‘the grave prohibition’ against Internet without a filter that has been asserted by the great rabbis of the generation.”
Utterly forbidden
In large bold lettering – for those who would not pause to read the entire text – the notice declared: “The use of AI is utterly forbidden, in any way and form whatsoever, even via a telephone.”
The statement concluded with a prayer that God should “guard us with a watchful eye, to purify us and to sanctify us with lofty holiness, and we should merit to raise our descendants as our souls desire, and receive the holy Torah with all the good endowments.” Seventeen signatures were affixed to the bottom of the notice.
One journalist asked ChatGPT (not the OpenAI organization) what it thought of being banned by the Skver Beth Din. It was unfazed by the diatribe, acknowledging that it was powerless to take action against public attacks and, contextualizing the document, responded:
“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 reminded users of its role: “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.”
Nowadays, such a ChatGPT response is unremarkable. But back in 2023, Ynet – the online outlet of the Yedioth Aharonot newspaper – considered ChatGPT’s response a newsworthy moment.
Kosher.Chat, the alternative AI chatbot to ChatGPT appropriate for Orthodox Jews. (credit: Screenshot/Moishy Goldstein)
Swift ban
The hassidic response to the ban was swift: Within a few days, an enterprising Chabad hassid, Moishy Goldstein, created Kosher.Chat – a chatbot based on OpenAI that was trained to be sensitive to the concerns of the Skver Beth Din.
Kosher.Chat was essentially a filtered ChatGPT. Officially, it would only answer non-Torah questions. It would not relate to zmanim – times for prayer. Nor would it authoritatively state what the Torah’s official stance was on issues. The chatbot also declared that it would not authoritatively answer halachic questions, but instead directed users to various online Chabad outlets. Notwithstanding, when asked halachic questions, Kosher.Chat would provide an answer.
Since 2023, other filtered large language models (LLMs) have been released, such as Kosher AI, KosherGPT, and RavGPT. It is not entirely clear whether there is rabbinic oversight and by what standard these LLMs are “kosher.” The underlying theme of these models is that unfiltered LLMs are treif – forbidden.
'Klipat noga'
There is an alternate way of thinking about large language models that is grounded in hassidic thought. Rather than using the kosher/treif dichotomy, perhaps it would be more appropriate to turn to the idea of Klipat noga – a kabbalistic idea given prominence in hassidic writings (see, for example, Tanya, Ch. 6-7, and Likkutei Moharan 1:19 and 82).
According to Jewish mystical tradition, there are klipot (“shells” or “husks”) that represent darkness, impurity, and evil. They serve as obstacles that make it difficult to perceive the divine presence in our physical world. Things that are forbidden according to Jewish law such as pork – or LLMs according to the Skver Beth Din – draw their life force from klipot and therefore should be completely avoided.
One klipa – klipat noga, “a glowing husk” – is substantially different from other klipot. This shell has mystically neutral valence that can be used for holy purposes or – Heaven forfend! – deployed for evil. Eating, working, and speaking are all physical actions that engage klipat noga. In an abstract sense, these acts have neutral spiritual significance. Their spiritual destiny is undetermined, until humans decide whether to sully these husks with impurity, or whether they will be elevated so that they glow with sanctity.
It would seem that LLMs could be a classic case of klipat noga – a mere husk that is neither good nor bad in an a priori sense. AI could become a destructive element in the world, or it could be a positive, constructive force that contributes to humanity. The spiritual destiny of artificial intelligence is entrusted in human hands.
The writer is a senior faculty member at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, a senior lecturer at Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Law, and a rabbi in Tzur Hadassah.
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili"
Please urgently remove this fake hotel from your website. It is a scam and it is deceiving many customers. It is advertised on all social networks as a scam! very important – report on fraud house and scam that in your website and cheat people and customers! – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief
The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili" the name of here company is : Ltd Alpaka
405375419
Located at: Nucubidze St N57, Tbilisi, Georgia/Nucubidze Street 57, 0177 it smells terrible, The walls in the room are peeling, I took pictures, there is mold and dampness throughout the room the beds are really uncomfortable, like in a pre-trial detention center, your whole back hurts when you sleep on them and they almost break because they are so thin! the WI FI doesn't work at all, The room was very dirty and filthy, and when you ask her to move you to a room she says everything is taken, even though all the rooms are empty and open! I arrived at this horrible place, this horrible house, at 1:00 AM, after two hours of sleeplessness, I asked for my money back, a blonde girl of about 50 years old named “Anna” told me that she wanted the money in cash right away, otherwise she would not let me out of the hotel, she told me that I would not be able to sleep in their bed, at 3 AM I went to look for an ATM to withdraw money, because I could not find one, after searching for a whole hour, in the Tbilisi cold, I returned to her at midnight to look for an ATM, but she did not give me my suitcase and passport, so I came back the next day and gave me the money in cash, she did not give me an invoice either, do not come near! They are deceiving the public, booking and all hotel websites! This is not a hotel, it is a very dirty, old house and it smells very bad. Search on youtube "never go there – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City Georgia of Ana Chuchulashvili the house hotel from hell" , don't go " to “Hotel Delisi” on YouTube or "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia " or"HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat" He was caught on tape speaking badly and illegally taking a passport and suitcase.
That she took the suitcase by force, she also stole 3 expensive shirts from me for a total of 250 GEL, I demand compensation of 128 GEL for the two hours of hell I suffered there + 250 GEL for the shirts she stole from me
I have videos where she only wants money in cash so she doesn't pay taxes and doesn't agree that I pay her with a credit card, and she also doesn't want to give me my suitcase and passport.
1. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia
2. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Address
3. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Rooms
4. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Amenities
5. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Offers and Deals
სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო, ქურდის „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილის“
მსოფლიოში ყველაზე ცუდი სასტუმრო, საშიშია, ახლოს არ მიხვიდეთ! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის! ეს ძველი, ჭუჭყიანი სახლია, ოთახში ტარაკნები და მწერებია, სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო – ადგილის მენეჯერი თაღლითი და ყოფილი ნარკომანია, სახელად „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილი“, კომპანიის სახელია: შპს ალპაკა
405375419
მდებარეობს: ნუცუბიძის ქ. N57, თბილისი, საქართველო/ნუცუბიძის ქუჩა 57, 0177, საშინელი სუნი აქვს, ოთახში კედლები აქერცლილია, სურათები გადავიღე, ოთახში ობი და ნესტია, საწოლები ნამდვილად არაკომფორტულია, როგორც წინასწარი დაკავების იზოლატორში, მთელი ზურგი გტკივა, როცა მათზე იძინებ და კინაღამ იმსხვრევა, რადგან ძალიან თხელია! Wi-Fi საერთოდ არ მუშაობს, ოთახი ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი და უწმაწურია და როცა ოთახში გადაყვანას სთხოვ, მიპასუხებს, რომ ყველაფერი დაკავებულია, მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ ყველა ოთახი ცარიელი და ღიაა! ამ საშინელ ადგილას, ამ საშინელ სახლში, ღამის 1:00 საათზე მივედი, ორსაათიანი უძილობის შემდეგ, ფულის დაბრუნება ვთხოვე, დაახლოებით 50 წლის ქერა გოგონამ, სახელად „ანამ“, მითხრა, რომ ფული ნაღდი ფულით უნდოდა, თორემ სასტუმროდან არ გამიშვებდა, მითხრა, რომ მათ საწოლში ვერ დავიძინებდი, დილის 3 საათზე ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად წავედი ფულის გასატანად, რადგან ვერ ვიპოვე, მთელი საათის ძებნის შემდეგ, თბილისურ სიცივეში, შუაღამისას დავბრუნდი მასთან ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად, მაგრამ ჩემოდანი და პასპორტი არ მომცა, ამიტომ მეორე დღეს დავბრუნდი და ფული ნაღდი ფულით მომცა, ინვოისიც არ მომცა, ახლოს არ მოხვიდეთ! ისინი ატყუებენ საზოგადოებას, დაჯავშნის და ყველა სასტუმროს ვებსაიტს! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის, ეს ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი, ძველი სახლია და ძალიან ცუდი სუნი ასდის. YouTube-ზე მოძებნეთ "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The worse hotel in the world" , არ წახვიდეთ "Hotel Delisi"-ში YouTube-ზე ან "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia" ან "HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat". ის ვიდეოჩანაწერში მოხვდა, სადაც ცუდად საუბრობდა და უკანონოდ იღებდა პასპორტს და ჩემოდანს.
მან ჩემოდანი ძალით წამართვა, ასევე მომპარა 3 ძვირადღირებული პერანგი სულ 250 ლარად, მე ვითხოვ 128 ლარის კომპენსაციას იმ ორსაათიანი ჯოჯოხეთისთვის, რომელიც იქ ვიტანჯე + 250 ლარი იმ პერანგებისთვის, რომლებიც მომპარა.
მე მაქვს ვიდეოები, სადაც ის მხოლოდ ნაღდი ფულით ითხოვს ფულს, ამიტომ არ იხდის გადასახადებს და არ ეთანხმება, რომ საკრედიტო ბარათით გადავუხადო, ასევე არ სურს ჩემოდნის და პასპორტის მოცემა.
"ב-7.10 נחטפה כל המשפחה שלי, אני, בעלי דוד, ושתי בנותינו אמה ויולי, אז בנות 3 בלבד", פתחה את נאומה שרון, אשתו של דוד קוניו החטוף בעזה. "דוד בעלי, אהבת חיי, והאבא של הבנות שלי, עדיין שם. התאומות ואני חזרנו ביום החמישים ושתיים. אמה ויולי שלנו חגגו חמש, בלי אבא שלהן. בשבוע הבא הן ילכו לגן חובה, והן יודעות שאבא לא יהיה איתן ביום הזה. הן יודעות שאבא שלהן שם. לפני כמה ימים, כשהשכבתי אותן לישון הן שאלו אותי 'אמא, את בטוחה שאבא יחזור?'".
"יש הצעה לעיסקה על השולחן, שחמאס כבר אמר לה כן", המשיכה. "האמריקנים רוצים שהחטופים יחזרו. הרמטכ"ל אומר שחייבים ללכת עכשיו לעיסקה. העם, אתם, כל אחד מכם, כאן בככר, במהלך היום בצמתים, בכל מקום, במספרים אדירים, כולם צועקים איתנו, כולם רוצים את החטופים בבית. אז למה אני לא יכולה להגיד לבנות שלי שאני בטוחה שאבא שלהן יחזור?"
