Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 21/05/2026As we move into Shavuot, celebrating the giving of the Torah (and most specifically, the aseret hadibrot), it's worth reflecting that at least two talk about honesty -- which have become much harder to navigate with LLMs. 120
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 05/01/2026R' Ishmael listed 13 different hermeneutical principles as ways to read Torah -- not just one. Studying Torah is not "one size fits all"; there's a dynamic of what the text says and who is interpreting it. At the same time, it's also not a free-for-all, where anything goes. 120
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 15/12/2025A beautiful piece by Rabbi Sharon Brous, reminding us of the need for strength, courage, hope and light -- yes, every Hanukkah, but especially this one. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/o...nytimes.comOpinion | The Humanity Amid the Horror at Bondi Beach 011
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 03/12/2025Deadline is TOMORROW, December 4th to apply for @sinaisynapses.bsky.social project Scientists in Synagogues, funded by the John Templeton Foundation! Your community would get $5000 to explore topics such as AI, memory, neuroscience, astrophysics and more! sinaiandsynapses.org/scientists-i... 020
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 24/10/2025While most of the Jewish community is talking about the Mamdani letter, I wanted to share two letters to which I was just one of only a few rabbis to be invited to add my name, both surrounding AI. 100
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 06/10/2025The pushback against science was often from a fundamentalist perspective. Now, it's from a pseudo-skeptical framing of "I'm just asking questions here," especially from the manosphere. @adamfrank4.bsky.social explains how we help embrace science once again: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/o...nytimes.comOpinion | Why Young Men Are Losing Faith in Science 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 01/10/2025Sara Wolkenfeld & I are co-editing a special issue of the CCAR Journal about AI (coming out soon!), and she's a wonderful thought partner. How can we be more intentional re: our words & actions, esp as algorithms reduce our ability to think for ourselves? blogs.timesofisrael.com/digital-reso...blogs.timesofisrael.comThe Blogs: Digital resolutions: A liturgical deletion of the cacheWe often fall into the habits that tech companies nudge us toward, but we must take greater care and recalibrate our responsibility for the runaway train of AI 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 29/09/2025@kentremendous.bsky.social At the Yankees / Orioles game yesterday, my daughter was very upset that the Orioles had a monopoly on great names, but I told her they don’t hold a candle to Trodd Frankensteip and Ssassandra Ssassnorp. But these two may come close! 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 22/09/2025There are ethical challenges for using AI in sermons. But it's not black-and-white, and the role of the rabbi has changed dramatically. Perhaps AI can help rabbis recenter what makes their job so valuable, important and meaningful. wapo.st/4pEIBgswapo.stOpinion | AI won’t replace your rabbis — but it might save themToday’s pulpit leaders are overworked and deserve a bit of help with their sermons. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025This isn't a new phenomenon, but it raises the question of "efficiency" v. "effectiveness." Technology makes things easier, faster & cheaper -- and that's very useful for *things*. But spiritual work, can't (and shouldn't!) be done for speed. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/u...nytimes.comFinding God in the App Store 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 17/06/2025The question of AI is not IF it will change the way we engage with text, but HOW. This is still a very new world, with many ethical questions (such as accuracy, economic impact, plagiarism, IP and so on), but I do think that it can be a helpful tool. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/m...nytimes.comA.I. Is Poised to Rewrite History. Literally. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025We humans can't do anything by ourselves; we need others. Religion has been an incredible source of values for over 10,000 years, and while the way it plays itself out changes over time, the needs it meets will never go away. theconversation.com/did-humans-e...theconversation.comDid humans evolve to prefer religion? Research shows many atheists intuitively favour faithResearch highlights Atheists often believe religious faith is positive, even though they don’t hold it themselves. 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 12/05/2025@sinaisynapses.bsky.social Fellow Ciara Reyes-Ton has started to realize that science is more than studies and publications -- it's communication. How do we not just teach, but inspire? How do we use music, dance, or connections with religion? substack.com/home/post/p-...substack.comFinding My Voice as a Science CommunicatorI’ve been working for several years in science communication, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized it. 001
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 07/05/2025There are areas of both conflict & connection b/w science & religion. But most importantly, scientists are human beings -- passionate, curious, flawed & based in values and communities. That's an area where religion can have something to say to science. www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...theatlantic.comHow Scientists Can Be Good CitizensWe have a responsibility to ensure that our discoveries are used in the public interest. That isn’t always easy. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 02/05/2025What will we worship in our world today? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/o...nytimes.comOpinion | How to Survive the Trump Years With Your Spirit IntactI’ve found it necessary to root myself in anything that feels rehumanizing, whether it’s art or literature or learning. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 23/04/2025A very powerful & insightful piece. The Enlightenment, the scientific revolution, and the continual advancement of knowledge and better understanding of our world are good things. AND we need community, guidance, values, exploration -- things that religion can offer. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/s...nytimes.comAmericans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to ReligionIs it any wonder the country is revisiting faith? 110
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 10/04/2025There's so much in our world that's making us say, "Enough already!" But Dayeinu can remind us that while we focus on the things we are fighting against, it's more effective to focus on what we're fighting *for*, and to celebrate each step along the way. sinaiandsynapses.org/content/how-...sinaiandsynapses.orgHow Dayeinu Can Help Us Deal with “Enough Already!” - Sinai and SynapsesAs we look at this world right now, the framing of Dayeinu can be enormously helpful. It requires us to take things one step at a time. 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 10/03/2025@dzkalman.bsky.social shares the role that Jewish communities can play in ensuring AI remains ethical. While there are limits of what local communities can do, there's more than we might able to expect. jweekly.com/2025/03/07/a...jweekly.comOPINION | AI’s breakneck speed must not leave ethics in the dustWe cannot wait to speak up until the situation is egregiously (and probably irreversibly) out of whack. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 05/03/2025I was noticing this right as Covid was happening, and especially as we saw this was not going to be "two weeks out of an abundance of caution" -- we were going to be balancing individual rights and communal responsibility. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...nytimes.comOpinion | How Covid Remade Our America, Five Years LaterIt feels as if the pandemic is behind us. But we’re living in the world it made. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 14/02/2025Jewish law has an algorithmic aspect to it, and deep text study requires knowledge of a vast corpus, most of which people don't necessarily know (or even have access to) @dzkalman.bsky.social put Deep Search to the test, and it did quite well. www.jellomenorah.com/p/deep-searc...jellomenorah.comDeep Search will change Jewish LawAI is putting high-level legal argumentation in the hands of the public. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 07/02/2025'm definitely enjoying reading the excerpts from Ross Douthat's new book on belief, but I generally don't find the Cosmic Purpose argument for God all that convincing. I'm much more inclined to lean towards the experiential perspective (1/2) www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/o...nytimes.comOpinion | My Favorite Argument for the Existence of GodWe, ourselves, are part of the proof. 100
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Though it can be frustrating at times, the bureaucracy of the government is a feature, not a bug. "Moving fast and breaking things" is dangerous for our daily lives, and as ridiculous and awful as Trump's plan is for Gaza, this concerns me more. www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...theatlantic.comThe Government’s Computing Experts Say They Are TerrifiedFour IT professionals lay out just how destructive Elon Musk’s incursion into the U.S. government could be. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 06/02/2025@dzkalman.bsky.social (Sinai and Synapses Senior Advisor on technology) highlights some of the literature review on Judaism and AI, both the philosophical and practical questions. A great introduction to where things are, and where they may be going. open.substack.com/pub/jellomen...open.substack.comFinally, a Jewish AI debate has emergedThe field is broadening. Here's my report card. 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 04/02/2025So much of AI is the question of "what aspects of humanity might it replace?" Yet artists of all kinds will celebrated for the ineffable parts of our humanity. Since cartoons, by definition, aren't "human," how do we try to see the soul the characters? ’ www.nytimes.com/interactive/...nytimes.comOpinion | Hank Azaria’s ‘Simpsons’ Voices Won’t Be Fully Replicated by A.I.Soon enough, artificial intelligence may be able to recreate the sounds — but there will be something missing. 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 28/01/2025Many people have strong feelings re: AI (including wanting to ignore it) & it's hard to disentangle its technical, political, social and economic impacts. As the next four years will likely to lead to less and less regulation, we can't ignore its impact. www.natesilver.net/p/its-time-t...natesilver.netIt's time to come to grips with AIAfter the election, the timelines are accelerating. We need a pluralistic debate about its implications — but the left is dealing itself out. 020
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 14/01/2025I'm so excited to announce a new project that @sinaisynapses.bsky.social will be launching a new project entitled "Jewish Thought and Jewish Education for the Digital Future," working with @dzkalman.bsky.social, and funded by the John Templeton Foundation! www.templeton.org/news/announc...templeton.orgAnnouncing $8M in New Projects to Cultivate Character in the Digital Age 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 13/01/2025While this piece focuses on Christmas (and so I think it would certainly speak to many Christians), there are definitely analogies in the Jewish calendar -- from lighting candles to open and close to Shabbat, to increasing the lights from one to eight on Hanukkah, 111
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 03/01/2025In 2018, Congregation Emanu El was chosen as part of @SinaiSynapses' project Scientists in Synagogues, funded by @templeton_fdn to explore the relationship b/w science & Judaism. In 2023, Josh Fixler & Oren Hayon met w/ Sinai and Synapses Fellow Muhammad Ahmad... www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/t...nytimes.comReligious Leaders Experiment with A.I. in SermonsModern religious leaders are experimenting with A.I. just as earlier generations examined radio, television and the internet. 110
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 02/01/2025I've definitely seen this in how my kids are taught vs. how I had learned growing up. And it's not easy. But it can be done. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/o...nytimes.comOpinion | Giving Kids Some Autonomy Has Surprising ResultsLetting them take some responsibility for their choices is what prepares them for adult life. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 31/12/2024One of my favorite quirks of the Jewish calendar is that the seventh night of Hanukkah is almost always the darkest night of the year. Not the *shortest*, but the darkest, since tonight is Rosh Hodesh Tevet, so it’s a new moon. 120
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 31/12/2024@SinaiSynapses #2 post of 2024 came from Dr. Rachel Pear of Shir Hadash in Jerusalem. We are still grappling with the fallout of October 7th, and Israelis having been moving from a place of acute crisis to long-term trauma. How are they navigating? sinaiandsynapses.org/content/trau...sinaiandsynapses.org"Trauma" vs. "Crisis" - How Some Israelis are Managing - Sinai and SynapsesAs we try to navigate these difficult times, a quote from Mr. Rogers may help: "If you can mention it, you can manage it." 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 31/12/2024Sinai and Synapses' 3rd-most popular post in 2024 was from Temple Israel of Boston, w/ R. Dan Slipakoff and Dr. Nora Renthal. What happens when clinical research doesn't provide clear answers? Ahttps://sinaiandsynapses.org/content/how-failure-in-science-nurtures-success-in-medicine/ 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 30/12/2024Sinai and Synapses' #4 post came from Rabbi Ian Pear of Shir Hadash in Jerusalem, and one to look at on Tu B'Shevat and Sh'mini Atzeret, as well. When is rain a blessing, and when is it too much? sinaiandsynapses.org/content/when...sinaiandsynapses.orgWhen We Pray for Rain, Is It Because We Actually Want It? - Sinai and SynapsesWhen does Jewish law respond to scientific reality? 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 30/12/2024Sinai and Synapses' 5th-most popular post in 2024 was on quantum physics and reality -- what truly is "real" in our worlds? This conversation between Morris Levine and Rabbi Linda Joseph raised some fascinating questions! sinaiandsynapses.org/content/quan...sinaiandsynapses.orgQuantum Physics and Reality - Sinai and SynapsesQuantum physics and Jewish mysticism both contemplate the part of the universe we cannot readily see. 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 26/12/2024Effort is valuable but it's not an end unto itself. There's a balance of process & results, and the goal of the process is to reach results -- as well as a reminder that grades should be a reflection of how much has been learned and mastered. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/o...nytimes.comOpinion | No, You Don’t Get an A for EffortHigh marks reward excellence, not grit. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 26/12/2024Over the next few days, Sinai and Synapses will be sharing our top 5 most-read pieces. Just missing the cut was one of mine in preparation of the eclipse, and how is wasn't just the natural cycle, but the resonance it will leave on our family. sinaiandsynapses.org/content/the-...sinaiandsynapses.orgThe Eclipse Isn't Just a Natural Process – It's a Historical Event - Sinai and SynapsesEclipses are not just personal experiences; they are generational records that last for millennia. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 25/12/2024"This Hanukkah, whose first night falls on Christmas for the first time in two decades, we must decide: Will we increase the light or stoke the fire? In their shaping of this holiday our ancient rabbis’ answer to this question is clear: Choose the light." www.nytimes.com/2024/12/25/o...nytimes.comOpinion | This Hanukkah, Choose Light Over HeatWe follow the wisdom of the ancient rabbis in approaching both the holiday and this era. 021
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 23/12/2024Evolution has shown that nature is NOT "red in tooth and claw." Yes, we have evolutionary tendencies that emphasize selfishness, but we also evolved care, cooperation and altruism. In the words of Hall of Famer Buck O'Neil, "People ain't just one thing." www.nytimes.com/2024/12/22/o...nytimes.comOpinion | Human Beings Are Not Predators By NatureIt’s a source of today’s intense political animosity. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 20/12/2024Jewish holidays are pegged to astronomical events, and Hanukkah brings more and more light as the amount of sunlight is at its lowest. As we move towards Hanukkah and Christmastime, the winter solstice gives a reminder to @JohnGHendy www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...theatlantic.comA Nonreligious Holiday RitualThe winter solstice is a pristine time for the simple act of noticing. 021
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 19/12/2024I think I'd add adapt this is a bit to say religion in general, but since the vast majority of Americans are Christian, I do think it comes down to how a belief system, community, rituals and values can strengthen our democracy. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/o...nytimes.comOpinion | What if Our Democracy Can’t Survive Without Christianity?An atheist helps David French understand how religion supports America’s political ideals. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 12/12/2024A terrific piece by friend and collaborator @daviddesteno.bsky.social on how we can look at religion and Pascal's wager in a new way. And I love that he used the phrase in Exodus, "Na'aseh v'nishmah" -- I think I may have been the one who introduced him to that; he definitely got the Hebrew right! 110
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 10/12/2024A thoughtful piece from Sinai and Synapses Fellowship alumnus Connor Wood on a reminder that religion is much older than modern science -- and that "being human" is not a disembodied mind. cultureuncurled.substack.com/p/the-scienc...cultureuncurled.substack.comThe Science of Religion Part V: Rediscovering Human NatureWhat the scientific study of religion really offers us 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 06/12/2024Really interesting connections between religion and technology from @gregmepstein.bsky.social, humanist chaplain at Harvard and MIT. Is Technology Worthy of Our Faith? nautil.us/is-technolog...nautil.usIs Technology Worthy of Our Faith?Harvard and MIT humanist chaplain Greg M. Epstein on his 3 greatest revelations while writing Tech Agnostic. 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 05/12/2024 fascinating (and, admittedly complex) article on what might happen to theology and morality if there is a multiverse. aeon.co/essays/why-i...aeon.coWhy identity, morality and faith splinter in the multiverse | Aeon EssaysIf it’s true that we live in a vast multiverse, then our understanding of identity, morality and even God must be reexamined 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 04/12/2024I remember reading "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" many years ago, and hearing the distinction between "efficiency" and "effectiveness." We can be efficient with *things*, but need to be effective with *people*. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/o...nytimes.comOpinion | Nurses, Chaplains and Teachers Should Not Be Replaced With TechnologyWe’re increasingly becoming a society where very wealthy people get human care, like concierge medicine and private schools with tiny class sizes. 000
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 02/12/2024When our family was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we heard the announcers saying that Jennifer Hudson would "welcome in the holiday season." We joked that she should come out and sing, "S'vivon, Sov Sov Sov." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...theatlantic.comThe Christian Case for 'Happy Holidays'Well wishes should be addressed in the broadest possible terms. 110
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 27/11/2024Rituals of all kinds can be deeply meaningful, and Thanksgiving is one that nearly all Americans celebrate. Cristine Legare shares some of the research behind its value -- even if only a small percentage of us actually LIKE turkey on Thanksgiving! www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3KC...youtube.comWhy We Need Ritual with Cristine Legare | Templeton Annual Meeting 2024YouTube video by Templeton World Charity Foundation 010
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 21/11/2024We need to stay focused on the human element of AI, and Alva Noe lifts up what he thinks makes humanity (still) unique -- we always struggle with new technology. Can computers think? No. They can’t actually do anything – aeon.co/essays/can-c... via @aeonmagaeon.coCan computers think? No. They can’t actually do anything | Aeon EssaysFor all the promise and dangers of AI, computers plainly can’t think. To think is to resist – something no machine does 020
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman @rabbimitelman.bsky.social · 19/11/2024I'm excited to highlight the incredible work of Sinai and Synapses, which bridges the worlds of religion and science. Having founded it more than 10 years ago, it's been a wonderful and inspiring journey to help rabbis and scientists explore their interaction! www.youtube.com/watch?v=StWe...youtube.comScientists in Synagogues: In ConversationYouTube video by Sinai and Synapses 041