Knowledge on the Deeper Side

G-d's Custodians

The Highest Form of Giving

Judaism places a strong emphasis on charity: everything comes from G-d, so use what you have as He would want. But why doesn’t G‑d just give each person their appropriate share of wealth, rather than creating a world where some people are wealthy and others are in need?

G-d's Custodians

The Highest Form of Giving

Judaism places a strong emphasis on charity: everything comes from G-d, so use what you have as He would want. But why doesn’t G‑d just give each person their appropriate share of wealth, rather than creating a world where some people are wealthy and others are in need?

Hastening the Inevitable

Is One Responsible for Expediting Inescapable Harm?

The popular adage claims that "nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." In reality, however, many of life's outcomes can be said to be certain and inevitable. So how are we to reach when someone intervenes and hastens a harm or loss that would have occurred moments later? In this lesson we examine whether such perpetrators, whose actions appear to be of no consequence, should be absolved or held accountable.

Hastening the Inevitable

Is One Responsible for Expediting Inescapable Harm?

The popular adage claims that "nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." In reality, however, many of life's outcomes can be said to be certain and inevitable. So how are we to reach when someone intervenes and hastens a harm or loss that would have occurred moments later? In this lesson we examine whether such perpetrators, whose actions appear to be of no consequence, should be absolved or held accountable.

Making the Right Turn

Engineering Ethics Into Driverless Vehicles

The advent of the self-driving car promises to significantly reduce the 1.25 million traffic deaths that occur each year worldwide by removing their primary cause -- human error. However, this technology poses some ethical dilemmas inasmuch as these machines will have to make decisions regarding whom to save or protect in the the event of a collision. Those creating the vehicle's algorithm will literally decide who shall live and who shall die. This lesson aims to apply ancient Talmudic considerations to a very modern problem.

Making the Right Turn

Engineering Ethics Into Driverless Vehicles

The advent of the self-driving car promises to significantly reduce the 1.25 million traffic deaths that occur each year worldwide by removing their primary cause -- human error. However, this technology poses some ethical dilemmas inasmuch as these machines will have to make decisions regarding whom to save or protect in the the event of a collision. Those creating the vehicle's algorithm will literally decide who shall live and who shall die. This lesson aims to apply ancient Talmudic considerations to a very modern problem.

Between Proximate & Remote

Is One Responsible for Causing an Indirect Loss?

Cause and effect succeed one another ad infinitum, and so the consequences of any given act can be deemed to be limitless. At what point do we consider the loss to be too remote and disconnected from the actions of the wrongdoer to hold him or her responsible? Is there a universal principle that can be applied consistently to all cases of indirect harm? In this lesson we examine the Talmud's distinctive approach to this area of law.

Between Proximate & Remote

Is One Responsible for Causing an Indirect Loss?

Cause and effect succeed one another ad infinitum, and so the consequences of any given act can be deemed to be limitless. At what point do we consider the loss to be too remote and disconnected from the actions of the wrongdoer to hold him or her responsible? Is there a universal principle that can be applied consistently to all cases of indirect harm? In this lesson we examine the Talmud's distinctive approach to this area of law.

Watch What You Think

The Clean Mind Test

When your mind wanders to places it shouldn’t, aren’t you glad nobody can tell what you are thinking? This doesn’t mean inappropriate thoughts are okay. We are responsible to make sure we use our minds properly, because everything starts at the top.

Watch What You Think

The Clean Mind Test

When your mind wanders to places it shouldn’t, aren’t you glad nobody can tell what you are thinking? This doesn’t mean inappropriate thoughts are okay. We are responsible to make sure we use our minds properly, because everything starts at the top.