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The Rabbinical Alliance of America Celebrates New Book Addressing Issues of Faith in the Internet Era
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Where does a group of rabbis feel most at home? At a synagogue and a yeshiva, certainly, but also at a Jewish book store. On December 8, 2024, the Rabbinical Alliance of America / Igud HaRabbonim (RAA), a national rabbinic held its monthly conference at Mizrahi Bookstore, the largest Jewish book store in the world. Boasting over 500,000 titles, Mizrahi Bookstore, located at 3108 Quentin Road in Brooklyn, NY, is like a candy store for rabbis and researchers who meet there to discuss scholarly topics and buy both rare and common second-hand books. The unusual location for RAA’s monthly meeting was chosen as an ideal place to celebrate the release of the new book, Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era, by Rabbi Gil Student, Director of RAA’s Halacha Commission.
At the conference, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of RAA, expressed support for all members who publish works of Torah scholarship and his expectation that future RAA conferences will highlight other members who publish sefarim. The future of the Jewish people rests on the continued study of Torah at the highest levels. RAA is proud to play a role in the ongoing teaching and publication of its many members. Rabbi Mirocznik remarked, “I have great pride that Rabbi Student has published a fascinating book examining timely topics about community, faith and technology, using a vast array of Torah sources to explore important issues of the day in a calm and sober way. There is a time to denounce with strong words and a time to analyze calmly and methodically. Each is right in its own time and place. Rabbi Student has chosen to use the latter approach and make a Kiddush Hashem with this publication.”
In his remarks, Rabbi Gil Student explored the theme of balancing individual independence with religious authority in the age of the internet. He argued that technology, while providing access to vast amounts of information, can undermine religious authority by making individuals feel less reliant on experts. Rabbi Student used the analogies of GPS navigation and autotune to illustrate how technology can artificially provide skills that individuals may naturally lack. Similarly, the Internet provides accessibility to Jewish texts that used to be limited to those with careful training. He noted that the internet poses particular challenges to religious life because it creates and strengthens a drive for independence which directly collides with the need for tradition and authority.
Rabbi Student argued that the solution varies by community but ultimately lies in finding ways to harness the power of technology while mitigating its risks. He highlighted initiatives such as the distribution of flip phones and the development of specialized operating systems that limit access to certain websites and apps, which people choose to adopt. Rabbi Student concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and the search for solutions that respect both individual autonomy and the need for religious authority. His new book explores these and other related topics.
Rabbi Yosef Serebryianski, rosh kollel of Kollel Ayshel Avraham Zichron Ya’akov and rabbi of Congregation Beth Tikvah of Canarsie, led the group in reciting Tehillim for all the sick people in the community and all the soldiers and citizens in Israel who are in harm’s way. We pray that they receive divine protection and healing, and that peace be restored in this world. As a new regime in Syria overthrows the previous wicked dictator, there is a lot of uncertainty about the implications to Israel and the Middle East. We remain cautious in our thoughts but pray that this development furthers the effort for peace in the region and around the world.
