Isaac Asimov

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 Isaac Asimov was born on January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi, Russia, to a Jewish family. When he was just three years old, his family immigrated to the United States to escape antisemitism and find a better life. They settled in Brooklyn, New York, where Asimov grew up speaking Yiddish at home and English at school. Though not deeply religious, his Jewish heritage played a strong role in shaping his values — especially his belief in education, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility. His family ran a candy store, where young Isaac taught himself to read science fiction magazines — sparking a love of stories, science, and learning that would define his life. 

Isaac Asimov was one of the most influential science fiction writers of all time, often credited with helping to elevate the genre into serious literature. He wrote or edited more than 500 books and over 90,000 letters, essays, and short stories, covering topics from robotics to religion, from Shakespeare to space travel. He is best known for his Foundation series and Robot series, in which he introduced the famous Three Laws of Robotics — ideas that continue to influence real-world discussions about artificial intelligence. In addition to fiction, Asimov was a brilliant science communicator. He wrote books for young readers and adults that made complex topics like chemistry, astronomy, and physics understandable and exciting. 

Isaac Asimov didn’t just entertain people with his stories — he helped shape how the world thinks about science, ethics, and the future. His visions of robotics, space exploration, and artificial intelligence helped lay the intellectual groundwork for modern computer science and robotics. He was also a champion of rational thought, scientific progress, and secular ethics, often writing about the dangers of ignorance and the importance of education. As a proud Jewish immigrant and a humanist, he believed in the power of human reason to build a better world. His legacy continues through films, technology, and the many writers and scientists he inspired. 

• Author of Foundation and I, Robot — two of the most important science fiction series ever written
   
• Creator of the Three Laws of Robotics, a foundational concept in discussions of AI ethics
   
• Wrote over 500 books across genres: science, fiction, history, religion, and education
   
• Promoted scientific literacy and curiosity through clear, engaging writing
   
• Influenced real-world thinkers in fields like computer science, robotics, and ethics
   
• Helped define the “Golden Age of Science Fiction”
   
• A proud Jewish American who used storytelling to explore moral responsibility and the future of humanity

The Three Laws of Robotics (created by Asimov):

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human to come to harm.
    
2. A robot must obey orders given by humans unless it conflicts with the First Law.
    
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as that doesn’t conflict with the First or Second Law.
    

Puzzle:
You are a robot. A human tells you to unplug a dangerous machine that is helping another human breathe. If you unplug it, the person will die. If you don’t, the machine may explode in 5 minutes. What do you do?

Student Task:
Discuss or write a short response explaining what decision you would make and how the Three Laws apply. There's no single right answer — only ethical thinking!

Imagine you're a Jewish teenager 100 years from now. What does the world look like? Are there robots? Have we solved climate change? What Jewish values still matter in the future?
 

Encourage students to write a short science fiction story inspired by Asimov’s curiosity and vision. Bonus: illustrate a robot or AI assistant who uses the Three Laws!