Brooklyn Rabbis Build AI Tools to Strengthen Faith

In a small electronics shop in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, something remarkable is happening at the intersection of ancient faith and cutting-edge technology.

Baruch Kahana has spent a decade helping Hasidic Jews navigate the digital world at the Technology Awareness Group, a nonprofit dedicated to helping religious families use technology safely. His latest challenge reflects a fascinating shift: communities aren't just blocking AI anymore. They're building their own.

While Kahana recently helped one customer remove AI assistants from his phone, other Hasidic groups are taking the opposite approach. Rabbis affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement are designing custom AI applications to teach Jewish law and strengthen religious education.

The change reflects a broader movement happening across faith communities worldwide. Instead of rejecting new technologies outright, religious groups are "culturing" them, says Dr. Ruth Tsuria, a digital religion scholar at Seton Hall University.

Her research reveals surprising adoption rates. In a survey of Orthodox Jews, 94% reported using AI at least once weekly. Even more striking, 66% of AI users ask platforms questions about Jewish law, traditionally the rabbi's domain.

The Ripple Effect

This technological embrace is creating new possibilities for religious education. Custom AI tools can help students study ancient texts, answer questions about religious practices, and make traditional knowledge more accessible to younger generations.

The movement mirrors similar innovations in other faith communities. Christians have developed AI prayer companions, while Muslims use Islamic chatbots for religious guidance. The faith tech industry is booming, but Hasidic communities are approaching it with intentionality.

Groups like TAG are pioneering a middle path. They're not banning technology or accepting it uncritically. Instead, they're carefully shaping it to serve their values. Kahana's work helping families customize their devices shows how communities can maintain tradition while embracing innovation.

The key insight: technology doesn't have to threaten faith. When shaped thoughtfully, it can strengthen it. Hasidic developers creating educational AI tools are proving that ancient wisdom and modern innovation can work together.

Communities that once sold only simple flip phones now offer sophisticated filtered smartphones. The "kosher tech" ecosystem has evolved from basic blocking to creative building. Rabbis are becoming developers, creating apps that teach Torah alongside the tech giants' offerings.

What started as resistance is becoming partnership. These communities are showing that preserving values doesn't require rejecting progress—it requires shaping progress to serve those values.