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25 August 2025

Reb Sones: Shoftim “צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף”

 Justice, Justice You Shall Automate?

How Artificial Intelligence is subverting the pursuit of justice in Israel


The Torah portion of Shoftim contains one of the most foundational injunctions in Jewish jurisprudence: “צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף” – “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Rashi explains the repetition of the word “justice” as a profound command: one must pursue justice relentlessly, through just and righteous means. The method of pursuit is as crucial as the outcome.

This command by the Creator poses a direct and urgent challenge to the modern State of Israel as it navigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence into its legal sphere. The premature and inadequately regulated adoption of AI, a tool that is inherently opaque, prone to error, and devoid of human conscience, represents not merely a new method, but a fundamental subversion of this holy pursuit. It threatens to replace the nuanced, human striving towards righteousness with the cold, and often flawed, logic of the machine.

Prevailing policy prioritizes economic innovation over essential legal safeguards, leading to demonstrable failures in the administration of justice. Currently, there is still a stark contrast between the secular court system, which is grappling with the tangible consequences of AI misuse, and the Rabbinical Batei Din, which largely reject AI’s role in judicial reasoning on deeply-rooted theological grounds. Current AI adoption subverts the pursuit of true justice by introducing systemic bias, eroding human discretion and public trust, and creating a profound accountability vacuum.

Continue reading on Jewish Home News by Mordechai Sones

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Beautifully explained. To me, it is common sense that should warn every thinking human being that it is not possible to rely on a man-made machine
thinking and interpreting for us. It will not work; but the Rabbinate and all,
especially, religious Jews should definitely totally veer away from it!
chelm

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