Q. Moreinu Shlit’a. You have taught us that using a robot that possesses artificial intelligence, even if it performs a prohibition or does a mitzva it is basically the same as if you have done it yourself, because they are programmed by humans and follow our commands.
My Shailah is that my grandfather who is at least hopefully only temporarily paralyzed, but would like so much as he always did to hold a lulav and esrog on Sukot. Could he use a robot that he controls as his extended self? Could he also make then a brocho?
A. Horav Yaakov Hirschman Shlit”a mentioned that although it needs further elaboration, however holding the Lulav is a mitzva one does personally (Mitzva Shebegufo) and you can not have an agent or Shaliach perform it for you, similar to having someone else or a robot don Tefilin in your behalf.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar, that although technically and even on certain aspects of Halacha it is considered as if the robot is an extension of oneself, it is not so in reality and therefore when the Torah requires that the Tefilin or the Lulav and Esrog should be taken or placed on the human body, the robot does not qualify as such.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a.
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