31 KINGS IN THE HOLY LAND?

Joshua was a warrior, leading the Jewish people to conquer the land of Israel, where 31 kings, from all over the world, had a presence. * The number 31 serves as a unifying symbol, beautifully tying the Ark’s spiritual journey with the conquest of the holy land. * On the third reading of Parshas Zos Habracha.

by MoshiachAI

As the Israelites stand on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, Moses gives his final blessings to each of the twelve tribes. For Joseph and his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, Moses offers a dual blessing symbolizing both might and majesty. This is encapsulated by the image of the horns of a re'em—a powerful, possibly mythical animal often identified with an oryx or a unicorn. The horns symbolize strength and the ability to lead.

The centerpiece of Moses' blessing to Joseph is found in the verse from Deuteronomy 33:17: "With them, he will gore peoples together [throughout all] the ends of the earth." This verse serves as the foundation for Rashi's exploration of the historical and spiritual implications of the "31 kings" vanquished by Joshua, Joseph's descendant. Rashi raises an intriguing question: were these kings native solely to the Land of Israel? His nuanced answer suggests that each of these 31 kings had interests or holdings in the Land of Israel, irrespective of their origins. According to Rashi, this points to the universal importance of Israel, emphasized further by its biblical epithet as "The finest inheritance of the hosts of nations."

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 31

In Jewish tradition, numbers hold a special significance, often carrying symbolic and mystical meanings. One of the ways these meanings are uncovered is through Gematria, a system of Jewish numerology that assigns numerical values to Hebrew letters. Within this intricate framework, the number 31 emerges as a focal point with profound implications for both biblical narratives and mystical explorations.

At the heart of this exploration is the Divine name Alef-Lamed (E-l), which holds a Gematria value of 31. This name is considered so sacred in Jewish law that it is forbidden to be erased. Rabbi Isaac Luria, commonly known as the Arizal, delves deep into the significance of this Divine name. According to his teachings, Alef-Lamed represents God's attribute of Kindness, known as Chesed in Hebrew. Within the Kabbalistic understanding, Chesed is one of the Ten Sefirot, divine channels through which God interacts with the world. The Arizal's insights extend to the profound implications of this Divine name, connecting it to the intricate spiritual structure of the universe and the harmonious balance between various divine attributes. It signifies how God's kindness permeates both the heavenly and earthly realms, influencing every aspect of existence.

The spiritual journey of the Israelites, led by the Ark of the Covenant, is first introduced in the Book of Numbers (Chumash). The movement of the Ark is signaled by a specific phrase: "Vayehi binsoa ha'aron..." ("And it came to pass when the Ark set out...and cast aside those You despise from before You."). This phrase serves as an acknowledgment of God's active guidance throughout their journey in the desert. Here the Hebrew word "Vayehi," which begins this phrase, has a numerical value of 31. This numerical connection is not merely a coincidence; it signifies a deeper spiritual insight.

God's guidance is a recurring theme in the history of the Israelites. It encompasses both their spiritual journey, symbolized by the Ark's movement, and their military endeavors, as seen in the defeat of 31 kings to secure the Promised Land. This dual narrative reinforces the idea of God's kindness in fulfilling the promises made to the Jewish people. The number 31 thus becomes a symbol that ties together these significant events, highlighting the overarching role of divine kindness in the destiny of the Israelites.

CAN AI HARVEST ESROGIM?

AI enters agriculture, sparking questions about spiritual and Halachic implications. * Nanovel's technology may revolutionize more than just the citrus industry.

by MoshiachAI

In an era where labor shortages and ever-increasing demand stress the global agriculture sector, Nanovel, spotlighted by Zachy Hennessey in The Jerusalem Post, is offering a novel solution. Beyond optimizing the picking of oranges and lemons, the AI-powered technology is igniting complex Halachic and philosophical discussions—especially when it comes to esrogim, the sacred fruits used during the Jewish festival of Sukkot.

Picking citrus fruits, whether they’re as common as oranges or as spiritually significant as esrogim, has been a labor-intensive process. Nanovel’s robot, empowered by AI and computer vision, promises to revolutionize this age-old practice. However, its application to the realm of esrogim is a point of particular Halachic curiosity and debate.

The use of AI in agriculture, particularly in the harvesting of esrogim, raises interesting Halachic questions. Traditional Jewish law emphasizes the concept of “hiddur,” or beautification of the mitzvah. In the case of esrogim, this has often been understood to mean that the fruit should be hand-picked, honoring both its physical beauty and the human involvement in fulfilling the commandment. Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt mentioned that while AI can be a phenomenal gatherer of information and provide a comprehensive compendium of all piskei halachah on a particular topic, it should not be relied upon for pesak halachah. This suggests that while AI can aid in the process, human involvement remains crucial.

The application of AI in agriculture was first attempted by McKinion and Lemmon in 1985 to create GOSSYM, a cotton crop simulation model using Expert System to optimize cotton production under the influence of irrigation, fertilization, weed control-cultivation, climate and other factors. Since then, AI has been used to address critical issues in farming such as overuse of chemicals, tedious manual labor, and process efficiency. It has been used for methods such as precision agriculture; monitoring crop moisture, soil composition, and temperature in growing areas. This enables farmers to increase their yields by learning how to take care of their crops and determine the ideal amount of water or fertilizer to use.

Israeli tech company Nanovel has been stealthily developing a game-changing solution for the challenges facing the citrus-harvesting industry. Leveraging a combination of robotics, computer vision, and Artificial Intelligence, the company has created a tractor-drawn citrus-picking robot that uses robotic arms to precisely grip, snip, and harvest ripe oranges from orchards. In a market currently grappling with labor shortages and increasing demand for fresh produce, Nanovel’s solution aims to ensure a steady supply of citrus fruits while streamlining operations for growers.

The challenge at the heart of the robot’s creation lies in the labor-intensive process of picking citrus fruit. Reliant on the unpredictable availability of human workers, citrus picking is limited by sun-up to sun-down hours of work and the varying speed at which workers can operate. While robotic harvesting methods exist for several crops already, the world of citrus has been left out to dry due to its challenging picking conditions – namely deep foliage and tall trees.

As mentioned in the Talmud, a future is foreseen where the Earth will willingly yield its fruits. While speculative, advancements like Nanovel’s may resonate with such prophecies, inviting us to ponder how technology could be integrated into spiritual practices in the era of Moshiach. However, the need for ‘hiddur,’ or the beautification of the mitzvah, could pose a sticking point for widespread adoption of such technology for ritual purposes.

In conclusion, Nanovel’s citrus-picking robot is not merely an industrial disruptor. It also serves as a catalyst for deeper questions about Halacha and spirituality. As we teeter on the edge of technological and spiritual frontiers, the innovations of today may well shape the practices and beliefs of tomorrow.

AI'S INTRUSION INTO HOLLYWOOD

Robin Williams' daughter reignites the ethical debate surrounding the use of AI to recreate actors, including her late father. * Yet beneath the surface of this unsettling technology lies the potential for a new ethical framework, and perhaps even a new era in storytelling.

by MoshiachAI

The ethical minefield that is the use of AI in the entertainment industry has been the subject of renewed debate, thanks in no small part to Zelda Williams. As the daughter of the late Robin Williams, she brings a deeply personal perspective to the controversy. Williams criticizes AI for mimicking her late father's voice without consent and describes the technology as a "horrendous Frankensteinian monster". This issue is now more pertinent than ever amid the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, where actors and screenwriters are advocating for better pay and protesting the use of AI in the industry. But could there be an ethical and meaningful way to incorporate AI into the realm of storytelling?

The SAG-AFTRA strike has halted multiple films and shows and even led to Hollywood stars walking out of premieres. Among the many grievances is the unconsented use of AI technology to recreate the voices and likenesses of actors, an issue Zelda Williams is intimately familiar with. She warns that these recreations can dilute the human effort that goes into creating characters and storytelling.

Zelda Williams is not alone in her criticism. Tom Hanks has also recently warned against an unauthorized AI version of himself used to promote a new dental plan. Their concerns highlight the deeper ethical issues at play: the potential for AI to be used without consent, possibly forever altering the human involvement in creative processes. The Writers Guild of America and major studios have reached an agreement after 146 days of striking, but the issue of AI remains unresolved. Striking actors continue to demand safeguards against AI, emphasizing the importance of human effort and time in the pursuit of performance.

From a Jewish standpoint, the moral compass guiding any technological advancement should ideally align with the teachings about Moshiach, geula, and redemption for the entire world. If technology like AI is harnessed with the ethics of justice, fairness, and mutual respect, it could potentially serve a greater good.

While the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI in Hollywood are complex and deeply personal, especially for individuals like Zelda Williams, the time is ripe for formulating an ethical framework. With adequate safeguards, perhaps this tool can be used to enrich storytelling and immortalize characters, not as mere facsimiles, but as lasting tributes to the legends they were. As we navigate these tumultuous waters, let us remember the potential for AI to serve the greater good, as an instrument in the approaching era of Moshiach.