The 20th Annual Louis Jacobs Memorial Lecture
Date: Monday 6 July 2026 | 7.00–9.00pm
Given by Rabbi Daniel Nevins
Judaism and the AI Revolution
The 20th Rabbi Louis Jacobs Annual Lecture, was delivered by Rabbi Danny Nevins, newly appointed as Senior Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue (NNLS), on the ethics of AI. Appropriately it was held here at New London Synagogue where Rabbi Jacobs z’l led his congregation for 36 years. The current senior rabbi of NLS, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon introduced Rabbi Danny.
The question explored in the lecture was ‘Can Judaism survive the AI revolution?’
In a fascinating and wide-ranging talk, Rabbi Nevins examined how Jewish law can help us navigate the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, exploring questions of agency, personhood and halakhic precedent. Among many things, he covered Torah, theft, data protection, copyright, free will, power, religion, responsibility, humanity, accountability, life, religiosity, addiction to screens, wisdom, animals, self-drive cars, autonomous drones, medicine, gene editing, communities, and AI and its ethics.
Rabbi Nevins argued that artificial intelligence is already woven into everyday life, bringing significant benefits in fields such as medicine, navigation and communication. However, he warned that AI also poses serious ethical challenges, including bias in decision-making, misinformation, surveillance, and the use of autonomous weapons. He argued that decisions involving human life and death should always retain meaningful human responsibility and accountability.
Turning to Jewish law, he explored how Halakhah responds to technologies that have no direct precedent. Rather than relying only on narrow legal rules, he suggested that Jewish legal reasoning must also be guided by the values and purposes underlying the Torah, including justice, kindness, righteousness and human dignity.
Rabbi Nevins considered questions about AI on Shabbat, asking not only what is technically permitted but also what might be lost if technology anticipates every human need. He argued that Judaism should resist allowing machines to replace human moral judgement or personal responsibility.
He concluded that the greatest safeguard against overdependence on AI is to strengthen human relationships and preserve spaces such as Shabbat, where people can step away from technology, cultivate genuine human connection and remember what it means to be fully human. At the same time, he recognised that carefully considered uses of technology may enhance participation and dignity for people with disabilities.
The intellectual excitement in the room was palpable, with thoughtful questions and lively discussion continuing long after the lecture ended. The evening concluded with wine, canapés in the hall adjacent to the main synagogue which coincidentally was where the very first movement-wide Masorti gala dinner was held.
A wonderful evening of serious Jewish learning, thoughtful conversation and community, and people lined up to buy signed copies of rabbi Danny’s book entitled Torah and Technology: Circuits, Cells and the Sacred Path.
You can listen to a recording of the address on a special episode of Jewish Quest- 20th Annual Louis Jacobs Memorial Lecture, wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/special-episode-20th-annual-louis-jacobs-memorial-lecture/id1587221509?i=1000775699072
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kLKQmIwWpFOdXQgQahmZf?si=79f7394f57274a74
Web: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1859010/episodes/19454280
