Torah and Technology
Circuits, Cells & the Sacred Path
What does Judaism teach about killer robots? Cultured meat? Genetically engineered people? What does it mean to rest on Shabbat when electronics are embedded all around? In a pandemic, whose life should be saved first? Can a person be declared dead after the brain has ceased to function, even if the heart continues to beat on life support? How can ancient religious norms address the radically transformed reality of a technocentric society? In this volume, Torah and Technology: Circuits, Cells, and the Sacred Path, Rabbi Daniel Nevins draws on 3,000 years of biblical and rabbinic texts to respond to pressing questions of contemporary life. These essays are presented in the form of responsa, or rabbinic guidance for Jews committed to practicing halakhah, but they are also of interest to any person who confronts ethical quandaries in our technocentric times. An online supplement provides free lesson plans and source sheets for educators to use in class.
Rabbi Daniel Nevins is Head of School at Golda Och Academy in West Orange, New Jersey. He previously served as Senior Rabbi of Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and as the Pearl Resnick Dean of the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary. A graduate of Harvard and of JTS, Rabbi Nevins is a scholar of Jewish law, and has served for twenty-five years on the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. He finds guidance in ancient Jewish wisdom for our rapidly changing social and technological environment.
"The responsa of Rabbi Daniel Nevins reflect the wisdom, knowledge, and insight of a deeply caring rabbi who is willing to wrestle with the cutting edge issues of our time. Readers, Jewish and non-Jewish, will be grateful for the paths that Rabbi Nevins forges for the ethical use of technology and medicine."
– Rabbi Dr. Pamela Barmash Chair, Committee on Jewish Law and Standards
The readers of this book will be richly rewarded by Rabbi Nevins’ knowledge of both the Jewish tradition and technology, his unparalleled ability to explain both in clear terms to people who are not experts in either, and his wonderful ability to exercise judgment in a wise and compassionate way as he deals with the moral and ritual challenges posed by many forms of modern technology. One could not ask for a better guide, so read on!
– Rabbi Dr. Elliot N. Dorff Rector and Distinguished Service Professor of Philosophy (American Jewish University)
Sample Pages:
Torah and Technology is printed in a 6in by 9in hardback format and on 60# cream paper. It comes to 425 pages.
Shipping:
We print and ship internationally. Shipping prices will vary and are set by our printers. Because each order is printed by a printer close to you, we aim to keep shipping costs as affordable as possible.
Update: November 23. Due to the ongoing war in Gaza, many shipping options to Israel have been restricted. For the time being we've had to remove Israel as a shipping destination to save you, our valued customers, and ourselves, unnecessary costs.
Processing:
Books are printed when ordered. On average it will take between 10-14 business days from when you place an order for the books to be printed and shipped to you. If you selected a shipping method with tracking, you can email us to check in on where your parcel is.