Tzohar

Who Wrote These Lines?

Can you tell whether the words you're reading were written by a person or generated by AI?

In his weekly column on AI and Jewish ethics, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Founder of Tzohar and Head of the Tzohar Center for Jewish Ethics, explores one of the defining questions of our time: what happens when we can no longer tell the difference?

As AI becomes more sophisticated, how should we relate to content when we no longer know who, or what, created it?

Read the full column >>

As the month of Tammuz begins, the sun reaches its peak and the days are filled with light.

And yet, Jewish tradition reminds us that even in our moments of greatest joy, we do not forget what is still broken.

At every Jewish wedding, beneath the chuppah, a glass is broken in memory of Jerusalem. Even at the moment of building a new home, we remember what we still long to rebuild.

So too with Tammuz. As we enter a month of warmth, light, and summer, we also move toward the 17th of Tammuz and the beginning of Bein HaMetzarim, a period of reflection on loss, division, and the work that still lies before us.

Perhaps the message of Tammuz is that true hope is not found in ignoring what is broken, but in continuing to build while remembering what still needs repair.

Chodesh Tov. 💐

What does Judaism have to say about civilian gun ownership?

As more Israelis consider carrying a weapon, questions of safety, responsibility, and ethics have become increasingly relevant.

In this new guide from the Tzohar Center for Jewish Ethics, Rabbis Yuval Cherlow, Shaul Bruchi, and Yaron Moskowitz examine the halachic and moral questions surrounding civilian firearm ownership, including the balance between protecting life, safeguarding the public, and the responsibilities that come with carrying a weapon.

Read the full guide and share your thoughts >>

Shield of Israel – Halachic Principles of Carrying a Personal Weapon for Self-Defense – צהר לאתיקה Strict Warning! This compilation does not act as a permit or recommendation to carry a weapon not in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel: Carrying a weapon obligates the carrier with halachic and moral responsibility and requires strict enforcement of general principles of caution as wel...

Can debate over kashrut be L'Shem Shamayim (in God's name)?

In this week’s edition of The Kiddush Times, Rabbi David Stav, Founder and Chairman of Tzohar and Chief Rabbi of Shoham, tackles one of the most complex topics in Jewish life: kashrut.

Taking inspiration from Parashat Korach, Rabbi Stav explores the difference between a dispute rooted in truth and one driven by division. He also looks at why Israel’s kashrut system raises such deep questions of public trust, from who can legally use the word “kosher” to who supervises the supervisors.

A thoughtful look at kashrut, debate, and a passionate call for a kashrut system that is worthy of the public’s trust.
Can Jews disagree about kashrut for the sake of Heaven?

In this week’s edition of The Kiddush Times, Rabbi David Stav, Founder and Chairman of Tzohar and Chief Rabbi of Shoham, tackles one of the most debated topics in Jewish life: kashrut.

Drawing on Parashat Korach, Rabbi Stav explores the difference between a dispute rooted in truth and one driven by division. He also looks at why Israel’s kashrut system raises such deep questions of public trust, from who may use the word “kosher” to who supervises the supervisors.

A thoughtful look at kashrut, disagreement, and the need for a system that is worthy of the public’s trust.

Read this and much more in this week’s edition of The Kiddush Times >

The Kiddush Times Issue 15 JUNE 12, 2026 | ‫ • כ׳ז סיון תשפ"ו‬ISSUE #15 • PARASHAT KORACH | ‫פרשת קרח‬ SIVAN Moshe then brought out all the staffs from before G-d to all the Israelites; each identified and took his staff...” (Bemidbar 17:23) INSIDE: 20 12 36 Chief...

Who is responsible when AI gets it wrong?

In this week’s edition of The Kiddush Times, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Founder of Tzohar and Head of the Tzohar Center for Jewish Ethics, continues his new series on AI and Jewish ethics by exploring one of the most pressing questions of our time: responsibility.

When an AI system makes a mistake, who is accountable? The user? The developer? The organization behind it?

Drawing on sources from Tanach and Jewish ethical thought, Rabbi Cherlow examines why responsibility cannot simply be handed over to technology, no matter how advanced it becomes.

Read the full column >>
https://www.calameo.com/read/004663782e6b989300b73?page=1

“Leveraging Torah values for the purpose of evading military service is a desecration of God’s name.”

In the wake of yesterday’s Knesset vote, Tzohar expresses deep opposition to legislation that would establish Torah study as a Basic Law, especially when Torah is being linked to exemption from military service.

Torah study is one of the central values of Jewish life. Precisely because of that, it must never be used as a political bargaining chip or as a justification for avoiding the mitzvah of protecting Am Yisrael.

Using Torah in this way does not strengthen its place in Israeli society. It disgraces it.

Read more here:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/428438

Also covered by The Times of Israel:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-advances-basic-law-bill-enshrining-torah-study-despite-coalition-revolt/

Knesset advances Basic Law bill equating Torah study with IDF service, despite coalition revolt Four coalition MKs opposed measure declaring Torah study a foundational value; critics say bill seeks to preserve mass ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions, 'spits in the face' of troops

Can halacha keep up with artificial intelligence?

Starting this week, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Founder of Tzohar and Head of its Board of Ethics, will write a regular column on AI and Jewish ethics in The Kiddush Times.

His first column, "AI and Halacha: An Introduction," explores how eternal Torah values can guide us through a rapidly changing technological world. 💭

Read the full article here >>

Following the deeply disturbing events this evening where extremist rioters desecrated the home of Israeli High Court Justice Noam Solberg, Tzohar responded saying:

One is certainly entitled and permitted to disagree with our justice system.

But an act of desecration against the home of a judge and dangerous threats of violence against our democratic institutions can all too quickly lead to the very destruction of our beloved society.

The police must ensure that these criminals are arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Failure to condemn and fiercely punish these actions could Heaven forbid lead to complete anarchy or worse.