- - Q. Honorable Rabbi. Can one attend a Levaya, were there is no Rabbi or Chazan present, and the whole funeral ceremony is heard from a AI directed microphone and speakers system that follows by cameras the whole procedure and directs the process following an established AI program. Is that permitted?

A. The Rambam (Hilchos Aveil 14:1) writes: "It is a positive Rabbinic mitzvah to visit the sick, comfort the mourners, escort the dead, marry off a bride, accompany guests, to be involved in all the needs of the burial, to carry the dead on one’s shoulder, walk before him, to eulogize, to dig and bury, to gladden the bride and groom, and provide them with all their needs. All of these are gemilus chasadim (acts of kindness).

As is obvious those most important Mitzvos should be done by humans who honour and provide the needed respect and show their esteem and feelings for the deceased and their family and friends. It would be a dishonor to have it done by an AI non human machine.

The above is the accepted response of most Rabbonim.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a.”