The Boreham Woodpusher

The man on the Clapham Omnibus is said to hold typical, ordinary opinions. When it comes to sampling the average views of mainstream British Jewish orthodoxy, the Boondocks of Borehamwood is the place to find the answer. In brief, elements of the Charedi Orthodox World had whipped up a controversy over Rabbi Dweck's more inclusive approach to homosexuality. Ironically, his main protagonists expressed their considered halachic views on YouTube, a medium that contains more treifa offerings than an insect farm. One particular American Rabbi with a penchant for internet sermons included vitriol more suited to a fertilizer plant. The Chief Rabbi was thankfully called in to adjudicate, with the results coming out the following week. The consensus in the Wood at the Cholent kiddushes and Shabbat tables was firmly with Rabbi Dweck, abetted by the odd nod and wink from the local ecumenical hierarchy. The view was that a classic British compromise would be reached (which broadly proved to...

I enjoyed watching Humans on Channel 4, the dystopian alternative where humanoid robots are common place. The interaction between humans and robots was fascinating, as were the moral issues it raised. But it won't happen for years in reality... It is now July 2017, and the Daily Telegraph published an article stating that doll brothels already operate in South Korea, Japan and Spain, and similar services are available in West London. It seems things are moving fast in this area. A whole new lexicon will become mainstream.   The moral issues around robots (e.g. see http://responsiblerobotics.org) are widely discussed on the internet, so won't dwell on them here.  But I was thinking: How will Orthodox Judaism react as more human-like and attractive robots come on the market. One day, a Rabbi may get a call from a woman complaining that their husband is paying too much attention to their domestic android? Or will men complain about competition from their butler-bot with...