I asked "If a beggar on the street appears intoxicated, should I give him any money?"
AskHillel.com answered: This is a powerful and nuanced ethical question, one that engages several deep Jewish values at once. The heart of the matter is whether giving money to a person who appears intoxicated is an act of compassion or a form of enabling harm. Jewish ethics does not give a simplistic answer, but it does offer profound guidance.
At first glance, the values of Chesed (kindness) and Tzedakah (justice and obligation to help the poor) would urge us to help a beggar. Jewish tradition regards giving to those in need not merely as charity, but as a form of justice. However, that obligation is not unconditional. We are also commanded not to place a “stumbling block before the blind” (Lifnei Iver), which includes enabling someone’s self-harm or destructive behavior. If the individual is visibly intoxicated, there is a reasonable concern that giving money could facilitate further alcohol or drug use, potentially worsening their condition or endangering their life — violating Pikuach Nefesh (the preservation of life).
But we must tread carefully. Kavod HaBriyot (human dignity) teaches that we must treat even those who struggle with addiction as full bearers of divine image — worthy of care and dignity, not dismissal or judgment. Addiction is often intertwined with trauma, homelessness, mental illness, and despair. To ignore them entirely would risk falling short of Lo Ta’amod Al Dam Re’echa — the duty not to stand idly by.
A balanced ethical path forward would be to avoid giving money directly if you suspect it may fuel harm — but to offer food, a hot drink, a kind word, or referral to social services. Some people carry small care packages with snacks, hygiene items, and resource cards. Others support shelters or addiction recovery programs. These actions align with both Tzedakah and Pikuach Nefesh, while also respecting the person’s dignity.
If time allows, making eye contact, smiling, or engaging in a brief humanizing exchange affirms the person’s Tzelem Elokim (divine image) — something more sustaining than a coin.
I've been working on a book delving into the philosophical underpinnings of things Hillel the Elder said. Because there is a commonality to all of them. I wonder how it will compare to what you've put together. Kudos. And btw, if you engage in philosophy, you *are* a philosopher. Degrees are for thermometers and protractors.
I used AskHillel for advice on a specific personal problem. Although I am not Jewish, I found the tool very useful. I asked it to compare Jewish ethics to Christian ethics. After digression into soteriology, AskHillel accepted correction and gave me guidance on how Christian ethics would address the problem I gave it.
This is a key response:
“In Christian ethics, grace and redemption inform the spirit of moral action, but the actual moral deliberation often looks strikingly similar to Jewish ethical reasoning — discerning duties, weighing relational commitments, acting with virtue, and being guided by Scripture and tradition.”
I believe you have provided a valuable tool for Jewish and Christian theologians alike.
I’m curious, what allows the engine to evaluate and choose between rival moral options which ones are more moral? What are the evaluative criteria? The reason I ask is that most philosophers are capable of calculating moral results from certain moral premisses, they just disagree with what those premisses are. Some consider familial piety a value, others don’t. For some, all morality is emotive, for others it’s rational imperatives, etc.
It’s exactly those rules that philosophy debates. You’ve given the bot a moral evaluative standpoint, and it breaks down to incoherence after too many follow up questions about the standpoint it occupies.
I’m think the bot is cool, but unfortunately philosophy will have to continue a little while longer until the bot transcends itself. I’m sure a Christian bot can succeed equally, and then they can debate :)
I didn’t have time to fully thread it out but you can understand the chain of reasoning and axiology it uses. Would need to sit down with it for longer to make it give explicitly self referential replies
Excellent!
I asked "If a beggar on the street appears intoxicated, should I give him any money?"
AskHillel.com answered: This is a powerful and nuanced ethical question, one that engages several deep Jewish values at once. The heart of the matter is whether giving money to a person who appears intoxicated is an act of compassion or a form of enabling harm. Jewish ethics does not give a simplistic answer, but it does offer profound guidance.
At first glance, the values of Chesed (kindness) and Tzedakah (justice and obligation to help the poor) would urge us to help a beggar. Jewish tradition regards giving to those in need not merely as charity, but as a form of justice. However, that obligation is not unconditional. We are also commanded not to place a “stumbling block before the blind” (Lifnei Iver), which includes enabling someone’s self-harm or destructive behavior. If the individual is visibly intoxicated, there is a reasonable concern that giving money could facilitate further alcohol or drug use, potentially worsening their condition or endangering their life — violating Pikuach Nefesh (the preservation of life).
But we must tread carefully. Kavod HaBriyot (human dignity) teaches that we must treat even those who struggle with addiction as full bearers of divine image — worthy of care and dignity, not dismissal or judgment. Addiction is often intertwined with trauma, homelessness, mental illness, and despair. To ignore them entirely would risk falling short of Lo Ta’amod Al Dam Re’echa — the duty not to stand idly by.
A balanced ethical path forward would be to avoid giving money directly if you suspect it may fuel harm — but to offer food, a hot drink, a kind word, or referral to social services. Some people carry small care packages with snacks, hygiene items, and resource cards. Others support shelters or addiction recovery programs. These actions align with both Tzedakah and Pikuach Nefesh, while also respecting the person’s dignity.
If time allows, making eye contact, smiling, or engaging in a brief humanizing exchange affirms the person’s Tzelem Elokim (divine image) — something more sustaining than a coin.
That is a great reply! Thanks!
I've been working on a book delving into the philosophical underpinnings of things Hillel the Elder said. Because there is a commonality to all of them. I wonder how it will compare to what you've put together. Kudos. And btw, if you engage in philosophy, you *are* a philosopher. Degrees are for thermometers and protractors.
Works great! I asked for a morning prayer derived from traditional Jewish prayers..
A Morning Prayer of Jewish Ethical Awakening
Modeh Ani — I offer thanks before You, Living and Eternal Sovereign, for with compassion You have returned my soul to me. Great is Your faithfulness.
As I rise to this new day, I affirm:
That life is a sacred trust. I breathe with reverence for the gift of today. (Pikuach Nefesh)
That each soul I meet bears the divine image. May I honor the dignity of all beings. (Tzelem Elokim / Kavod HaBriyot)
That truth matters. Let my words be honest, my thoughts clear, and my judgments fair. (Emet)
That I am responsible not only for myself, but for others. May I never stand idly by when someone is in need. (Lo Ta'amod al Dam Re'echa)
That justice and kindness are not opposites but companions. Let me balance firmness with mercy. (Din v'Rachamim)
That my actions are a reflection of Your light. Help me sanctify Your Name today. (Kiddush Hashem)
May my day be filled with humility and joy, integrity and peace. Let me learn from every encounter and repair what I can.
May I walk lifnim mishurat hadin—beyond the letter of obligation—toward what is truly good.
Baruch Atah Hashem, Mechadesh b'chol yom tamid ma'aseh bereishit — Blessed are You, who renews creation each day.
I used AskHillel for advice on a specific personal problem. Although I am not Jewish, I found the tool very useful. I asked it to compare Jewish ethics to Christian ethics. After digression into soteriology, AskHillel accepted correction and gave me guidance on how Christian ethics would address the problem I gave it.
This is a key response:
“In Christian ethics, grace and redemption inform the spirit of moral action, but the actual moral deliberation often looks strikingly similar to Jewish ethical reasoning — discerning duties, weighing relational commitments, acting with virtue, and being guided by Scripture and tradition.”
I believe you have provided a valuable tool for Jewish and Christian theologians alike.
I asked your Hillel bot about jewish anthropology. The answer was very helpful! Thank you for this beautiful work.
I’m curious, what allows the engine to evaluate and choose between rival moral options which ones are more moral? What are the evaluative criteria? The reason I ask is that most philosophers are capable of calculating moral results from certain moral premisses, they just disagree with what those premisses are. Some consider familial piety a value, others don’t. For some, all morality is emotive, for others it’s rational imperatives, etc.
Yes, it has rules. It gives its logic. And you can ask it to explain itself. Try it out!
It’s exactly those rules that philosophy debates. You’ve given the bot a moral evaluative standpoint, and it breaks down to incoherence after too many follow up questions about the standpoint it occupies.
I’m think the bot is cool, but unfortunately philosophy will have to continue a little while longer until the bot transcends itself. I’m sure a Christian bot can succeed equally, and then they can debate :)
It didn't work for me for some reason.
Send me the session. Id love to see what happened.
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-681194642ebc81918b51426bfc31b2f2-ask-hillel-jewish-ethics-ai/c/6834de96-fea0-800d-aace-72a4d4bcfd6b
I didn’t have time to fully thread it out but you can understand the chain of reasoning and axiology it uses. Would need to sit down with it for longer to make it give explicitly self referential replies
Still didn't work for me. Could you email it to feedback@askhillel.com? Thanks!