What about Jewish law? While no one should make a halachic decision based on how an AI answers a question, it seems to me that how they answer halachic questions could indicate which ones are best for other uses.
My question: Halachically, should one living in New York daven towards the east and a bit south to pray towards Jerusalem, or should they use the Great Circle route?
ChatGPT says:
ChatGPT says:
When it comes to halachic practice regarding prayer direction (davening) towards Jerusalem, there's a discussion about whether one should use the Great Circle route or simply face east (or east-southeast) from locations in North America like New York.1. The Simple Direction (East or East-Southeast):East: According to many authorities, Jews in the United States and particularly in New York should face east, as this is the most direct and traditional direction towards Jerusalem when considering only cardinal directions.East-Southeast: Some authorities suggest a slight adjustment to east-southeast to account for the direction of Jerusalem more precisely.2. The Great Circle Route:Great Circle Route: This is the shortest path over the Earth's surface, which may differ from the simple eastward direction due to the Earth's curvature. Using this method, the correct direction from New York would actually be slightly northeast, though this adjustment is minimal.Halachic Opinions:Rav Moshe Feinstein: Rav Moshe Feinstein, a preeminent halachic authority, ruled that in practice, one should face the general direction of east rather than being overly precise with calculations like the Great Circle route.Mishnah Berurah (94:9): It indicates that a person should align themselves as best as possible towards Jerusalem, which has often been interpreted as facing east from locations west of Israel.Conclusion:In practice, many poskim (halachic authorities) advocate for facing east, with some suggesting a slight adjustment towards the southeast. While the Great Circle route is technically more accurate, most traditional authorities do not require this level of precision, and facing east or east-southeast is considered halachically sufficient.Therefore, if you're living in New York, you would typically daven towards the east or east-southeast, in line with the conventional practice, rather than using the Great Circle route.
My main problem with this answer is the AI saying "this adjustment is minimal." It is not, as I illustrate here (roughly), showing the Great Circle route direction from New York in red and the Mercator map direction in blue. There is at least a 45 degree difference.
Meta's AI said:
A great question!Halachically, the consensus among most rabbinic authorities is to pray in the direction of Jerusalem using the Great Circle route, also known as the "shortest distance" or "as the crow flies" method. This means that someone in New York should face almost directly east, with a slight inclination towards north, to pray towards Jerusalem.The Great Circle route takes into account the Earth's curvature and provides the most direct path to Jerusalem. While facing east and a bit south might seem intuitive, it's actually not the most accurate direction from New York to Jerusalem.So, to answer your question, it's recommended to use the Great Circle route and face almost directly east with a slight inclination towards north when praying towards Jerusalem from New York.
Stating that the Great Circle route is only slightly northeast is wrong, as we noted. But even worse is the confident tone that this is the halacha.
I asked for the names of rabbis who hold this position, and got an equally confident result:
Here are some prominent halachic authorities who rule to pray using the Great Circle route:Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (Aruch HaShulchan, OC 94:3)Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (Mishpat Kohen 64)Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, OC 4:85)Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Minchas Shlomo 1:4)Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Da'at 2:16)The Chazon Ish (quoted in Orchos Chaim 94:3)Please note that there might be other authorities with differing opinions, and it's always best to consult with a local rabbi or halachic expert for practical guidance.Also, keep in mind that the difference between the Great Circle route and the "east and a bit south" method is relatively small, and many people may not be aware of the distinction. However, for those seeking precise halachic guidance, the Great Circle route is the preferred method according to these authorities.
I do not have these sources available as of this writing, but I think this is hallucination. For example, Googling "Igros Moshe, OC 4:85" it appears to be a responsum on using telephones or loudspeakers for different mitzvot. Yechave Daat 2:16 appears to be about a kohen who is near a dead body.
Meta sounds like it is definitely not the place to go for halachic discussion!
Here's what Google's Gemini says:
Prayer Direction: A Complex Halachic QuestionThe short answer is that there is no definitive, universally accepted halachic ruling on this matter.The traditional understanding has been to pray towards the east, as this was the general direction of the Holy Land. However, with the advent of more accurate geographical knowledge, the question of whether to follow a Great Circle route has arisen.Key Points:General Consensus: Most authorities agree that the primary direction for prayer is towards the Land of Israel and the Temple Mount.Great Circle Route: This is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere. For someone in New York, this would be northeast rather than east.Halachic Debate: There is significant debate among halachic authorities about whether to follow the Great Circle route or the traditional east-facing direction.Practical Considerations: Given the difficulty in determining the exact Great Circle route and the potential for confusion, many people continue to pray towards the east.Ultimately, the decision of which direction to pray towards is a personal one. It is important to consult with your rabbi or a knowledgeable scholar to determine the best course of action for you.
I followed up, asking which modern rabbis support the Great Circle Route, but it answered:
It may be accurate, but it doesn't give me too much to go on to research further.Unfortunately, providing a definitive list of rabbis who explicitly endorse the Great Circle route for prayer direction is quite difficult.Here's why:Relatively Recent Debate: The concept of the Great Circle route and its application to prayer direction is a relatively modern discussion, arising with advancements in geography and navigation.Lack of Specific Rulings: While many contemporary rabbis and scholars have addressed the issue, explicit endorsements of the Great Circle route over the traditional eastward direction are not as common as one might expect.Nuances of Halacha: Halachic rulings often involve complex considerations and nuances, making it challenging to isolate a single factor like prayer direction without considering other relevant factors.General TrendsThat said, it's generally acknowledged that there is a growing body of opinion among contemporary Orthodox rabbis who are open to the idea of considering the Great Circle route for prayer direction. While they may not explicitly endorse it in all cases, they recognize the validity of the argument and encourage further exploration of the issue.To get a better understanding of the different perspectives on this topic, I recommend consulting with local rabbis or scholars who are knowledgeable in this area. They can provide you with more specific information based on your location and their own research.
Grok from X was cheeky but not very informative.
Oy vey, talk about a question that's more complicated than a Talmudic debate! 😅Well, according to traditional Jewish law (halacha), one should pray towards the east and a bit south to face Jerusalem. This is based on the idea that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the holiest place on Earth, and Jews face it when praying.But wait, there's a twist! If you're using the Great Circle route (the shortest path between two points on a sphere), it might take you on a wild ride across the globe. 🌍So, here's the deal: if you're in New York, you'd be facing southeast to pray towards Jerusalem using the traditional method. But if you want to get technical and use the Great Circle route, you might end up praying towards the Atlantic Ocean or even Antarctica! 😱In the end, it's probably best to stick with the traditional method and face southeast. After all, who wants to pray towards a penguin?
Grok doesn't know the difference between the Arctic and Antarctica, which is a pretty good reason to never use it.
Here's what Claude.AI wrote:
This is an interesting question in Jewish law (halacha) regarding the direction of prayer. There are two main perspectives to consider:Traditional approach:Traditionally, Jews in New York (and most of North America) have prayed facing east, or slightly southeast. This is based on the straightforward understanding that Jerusalem is to the east of North America. This practice has been widely accepted for centuries.Great Circle route:In recent times, some have suggested using the Great Circle route, which is the shortest path between two points on a globe. Using this method, someone in New York would actually face more northeast to pray towards Jerusalem.The debate centers around how to interpret the requirement to face Jerusalem during prayer. The key considerations are:Historical precedent: The traditional east-facing approach has been the norm for generations.Intent of the law: The purpose is to direct one's heart towards Jerusalem and the site of the Temple.Geographical accuracy: The Great Circle route is technically the most direct path.Most halachic authorities still recommend following the traditional approach of facing east or slightly southeast. This is because:It aligns with longstanding custom (minhag), which carries significant weight in Jewish law.The primary goal is the intention of the heart, not precise geographical alignment.There's a concept in halacha of "lo plug" - not differentiating between similar cases. This principle suggests maintaining a consistent direction across North America.However, some contemporary rabbis have argued that with our modern understanding of geography, using the Great Circle route more accurately fulfills the mitzvah.Ultimately, one should consult their local rabbi for a definitive ruling. Both approaches have valid arguments, and either would likely be considered acceptable in fulfilling the mitzvah of facing Jerusalem during prayer.
This is a much better answer than the others. It mentions the intent of the halacha, the "lo plug" factor, and the importance of minhag which is not mentioned in the others.
I asked for the names of rabbis who discuss this:
Certainly, I can provide some information on rabbis who have supported or discussed the Great Circle route for prayer direction. However, please note that this is a relatively modern discussion in halachic literature, and the number of prominent rabbis who have explicitly endorsed this view is limited. Here are a few examples:Rabbi Dr. J. David Bleich: A prominent contemporary halachic authority, has discussed this issue in his writings. While not necessarily endorsing it outright, he has acknowledged the validity of the Great Circle route argument.Rabbi Hershel Schachter: Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University, has mentioned the Great Circle route as a valid consideration in determining prayer direction.Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (The Lubavitcher Rebbe): While not explicitly endorsing the Great Circle route, he discussed the concept and its potential relevance to prayer direction in some of his talks.Rabbi Dr. Ari Zivotofsky: Has written extensively on this topic and has argued for the validity of the Great Circle route from a halachic perspective.Rabbi Yehuda Shurpin: A researcher and writer for Chabad.org, has discussed this topic and presented arguments in favor of considering the Great Circle route.It's important to note that even among these rabbis, most do not necessarily advocate for changing established customs. Rather, they discuss the Great Circle route as a valid halachic consideration or as an interesting point of discussion in understanding the laws of prayer direction.Also, as I mentioned earlier, I may not have the most up-to-date information on this topic, and there may be other contemporary rabbis who have weighed in on this issue more recently. If you're looking for a definitive ruling, it would be best to consult with your local rabbi or a recognized halachic authority.
I didn't verify the sources, but this was a much more complete (sounding) answer that left open the possibilities of asking further questions.I did find Rabbi Shurpin's article at Chabad.org and he touches on the topic but doesn't really address it much.
This has been my experience in asking Claude questions on international law and medicine as well. So far, I think Claude is in the lead of these popular AIs.
My rankings:
Claude
Gemini
ChatGPT
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Grok (not recommended at all except for humor)
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Meta (stay far away)
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