Can Robots Be Jewish? And Other Pressing Questions of Modern Life

Amy E. Schwartz is Moment Magazine’s opinion and book editor, as well as editor of the magazine’s popular “Ask the Rabbis” section. Schwartz was a longtime editorial writer and op-ed columnist at The Washington Post, covering education, science and culture. She has also worked at Harper’s, The New Republic and The Wilson Quarterly. She is president of the non-denominational Jewish Study Center in Washington, DC and speaks and runs workshops on topics of Jewish commentary, psalms and literature nationwide.Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg is president of the Hadar Institute’s J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jewish Life. His many books include The Jewish Way, Sage Advice: Pirkei Avot and the forthcoming The Triumph of Life. He was chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and founding president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.Rabbi Shira Stutman is the senior rabbi at Sixth & I in Washington, DC. She is rabbi-in-residence for the Jewish Federations of North America and teaches on the faculty of the Wexner Foundation’s Heritage Program. She was named one of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis by The Forward, spotlighted as a Woman to Watch by Jewish Women International, and featured as a notable rabbi by Tablet Magazine.

“Can Robots Be Jewish? is a celebration—of the ongoing vitality of the Jewish encounter with modernity, of the shared religious language that persists across denominations, of the spiritual power of machloket l’shem Shamayim, argument for the sake of Heaven. No matter where you position yourself on the Jewish spectrum, this book is a gift.” —Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute and author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor“The old joke—‘two Jews, three opinions’— turns out to vastly understate the reality. This wonderful book shows the breadth of Jewish thinking in a way that brings wisdom and humor to vexing questions. It focuses not on doctrine or ritual but on how to live as good Jews in a rapidly changing world. Who ever thought a collection of essays on ethical dilemmas could be a page-turner?”—Steven Waldman, co-founder of Beliefnet and author of Sacred Liberty: America’s Long, Bloody and Ongoing Struggle for Religious Freedom“Fresh, delectable, to be consumed in nibbles or in one rapturous sitting. We may be a disputatious people, but on this we can agree: Can Robots Be Jewish? is the chocolate babka of books, leavened with pulpit humor and dusted with divine crumbs of timeless wisdom.”—Laura Blumenfeld, author of Revenge: A Story of Hope and daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter and great-great-granddaughter of rabbis“Ten very different spiritual leaders answer each Big Question with clarity, profundity, occasional levity, and a palpable love for Jewish tradition. My favorite answer is Rabbi Yitz Greenberg’s hilarious response to “Can robots be Jewish?,” which, alone, is worth the price of the book.” —Letty Cottin Pogrebin, author of Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female and Jewish in America“In these essays, often both witty and profound, an astonishing variety of rabbis address the great and not-so-great conundrums of our time. It’s hard not to come away from this book feeling more open-minded about yourself and the world we inhabit.“—Andrew Solomon, author of Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity

• TABLE OF CONTENTSForewordIntroductionChapter 1: ScienceCan a robot be Jewish?Should we edit our children’s genes?What does Judaism say about organ donation?Do science and Judaism conflict?When does life begin?Chapter 2: SexDoes Jewish law or tradition offer any guidance on contraception?If your child told you he/she was gay, what would you say?How should we view unmarried pregnant women?When and how should Jewish parents discuss sex with their children?Is silence consent?Chapter 3: Modern LifeWhat sins should we atone for in our use of social media?What does the Torah teach us about addiction?What guidance, if any, does Judaism offer transgender people?Is Judaism good for women?Are tattoos and body piercings taboo?Should Jewish children sing Christmas carols?Chapter 4: ValuesAccording to Judaism, are there fundamental human rights?Are there things that can’t be forgiven?Does Jewish law forbid racism?Does Judaism encourage arrogance?What does Judaism say about love?Should Jews strive to be happy?Chapter 5: PoliticsAre we commanded to vote?Does politics belong on the bima?Are there times when a rabbi must express his or her political opinion from the pulpit, even if it is likely to spark controversy?Is democracy a Jewish idea?Chapter 6: The Nature of the UniverseWhat is the Jewish relationship to time?Do Jews believe in an afterlife?Are we hard-wired to believe in God?Are Jews still expecting a messiah