Torahfaithforallnations

Time 2021-01-12 19:12:22

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The Torah portion, Noach, (Genesis 6:9-11:32), is an important reminder that any individual, Jew or gentile, has a place in this world and in the world to come. The story of Noah is particularly important to those gentiles who refer to themselves as B’nai Noach (literally, children of Noah) and follow the Seven Noahide Laws, a set of principles that are a divine blueprint for ethical living. For thousands of years, there has been a belief that all men and women are bound by a universal code of morality. Following the Deluge, HaShem renews His relationship with creation in its entirety and promises to never again to “cut off” all flesh with the waters of a flood. In return, mankind must behave wisely and justly, and walk with HaShem. According to Maimonides, six laws were commanded to Adam in the Garden of Eden. These were prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, sexual immorality and theft, as well as the commandment to establish laws and courts of justice. To Noah, God reiterated the law against murder and added the prohibition against eating flesh from a living animal, sometimes interpreted as behaving compassionately towards animals. This universal and ancient code was arguably the faith of Noah, Shem, Abram, Job and possibly even Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. These great men had strong ethical beliefs, and enjoyed a fruitful relationship with HaShem. Noah’s son Shem, for example, is believed to have been Melchizedek, the King of Salem or Jerusalem. Melchizedek means “my king is righteousness” or “righteousness is my king.” As a priest, Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and blessed both Abram and G-d. The Seven Laws of Noah were reiterated at Mount Sinai and form part of the 613 commandments given to the people of Israel. The reason for this is simple: the Jewish people were to safeguard these universal principles and to teach them to the nations. In other words, the Jews are a nation of priests tasked with bringing non-Jews into a relationship with HaShem. Jews themselves, of course, have their own particular covenant with HaShem as expressed in the Torah. Judaism is not a religion which seeks converts. The rabbis clearly teach that non-Jews have the option of following the Seven Laws of Noah. Although conversion is not prohibited (far from it), it makes no difference in terms of that person’s “salvation.” Jew and gentile alike are loved by G-d and judged by their deeds, not by their religious affiliation. When a gentile resolves to observe the Seven Laws, his or her soul is elevated. According to the rabbis, a non-Jews who commits himself to the Noahide Way becomes one of the “pious ones of the nations” and receives a share of the world to come, as well as blessings in this world. The Noahide faith has nothing to do with creating another religion, which is forbidden in the Torah, but is about acknowledging HaShem as the One G-d of both Jews and non-Jews, and recognizing that He is a righteous and loving G-d, Who is intimately concerned with His creation. Noahidism is rapidly gaining in popularity in the West, especially among former Christians who wish to have a relationship with HaShem without the baggage of Christian dogma and two thousand years of Church-sanctioned anti-Semitism. In fact, not since the days of the Second Temple when G-d-fearing gentiles regularly attended synagogues throughout the diaspora, has the Torah played such an important part in the lives of non-Jews. There are many Noahide groups and communities in the UK, Australia, parts of Europe, and throughout the US. In the early 1990s President George Bush Senior signed into law an historic Joint Resolution of both Houses of Congress recognizing the Seven Noachide Laws as the "bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization.” Chabad Lubavitch has done the most in recent years to reach out to non-Jews. In 2006, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel met with a representative of Chabad to sign a declaration calling on all non-Jews in Israel to observe the Noahide Laws. A year later, Chabad brought together ambassadors from Poland, Japan, Ghana, Latvia, Mexico and Panama, who all championed the Noahide Laws. In Manchester, England, where I live, Chabad has been prominent. Hasidic Jews are often seen handing out leaflets to passers-by. There is now a small Noahide study group, which gathers every week to discuss the Torah and Halachic matters. I am glad to say I am one of the participants in this group. The majority of Noahides are very supportive of the State of Israel and are on the frontline in the fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in their own countries. Most Noahides have their own blessings and prayers (written by orthodox rabbis) and have turned away from pagan holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Some Noahides attend synagogues and most, if not all, study under trained rabbis. In 2005, the scholar Rabbi Moshe Weiner of Jerusalem started work on an in-depth codification of the Noahide precepts. Published three years later, Sefer Sheva Mitzvot HaShem (“The Book of Seven Divine Commandments”) has been approved by the chief rabbis of Israel, as well as other halachic authorities. As a Noahide I am proud to be part of a growing movement which seeks to restore the faith of Noah and Shem. I am also gratified to be considered a friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. But mostly I am glad to have heeded Jeremiah 6:16, which speak of a journey of righteousness and a life of fidelity towards HaShem: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’.” The Noahide Way truly is the ancient path. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/12344 Religious holidays can be strange times for Noahides or B’nai Noach. As a Noahide living in Britain, I do not observe Christian festivals like Easter and Christmas and yet I am cut off from Jewish festivals such as Passover, partly because there are no Noahide customs to speak of and partly because I live nowhere near a synagogue.Noahides follow the Noahide Way, a divine moral code (given to Adam, Noah and Moses) which commands the establishment of courts of justice and prohibits idolatry, blasphemy, murder, sexual immorality, theft and cruelty to animals. However, Noahides are not supposed to create new religious festivals, nor are they allowed to observe Jewish religious holidays in the manner of their Jewish brethren.During Passover, Noahides find themselves in a quandary. How to observe this important holiday without trespassing on Jewish traditions? The general rule is that Noahides are allowed to observe Passover, the Sabbath and other holidays to some extent on the understanding that such observances are not commanded by G-d. In short, a Noahide has the option of commemorating Passover in a modified way, if he or she chooses to do so.In his book The Divine Code, Rabbi Moshe Weiner reiterates the rabbinical prohibition of setting aside any day for a specific religious observance or statute. However, a Gentile is allowed to eat unleavened bread or sit in a sukkah booth if he does it “for his own satisfaction” and “is not establishing a festival for himself.”So the removal of chametz is not required of Noahides but there are things Noahides may do in order to appreciate the spirit of Passover, such as spring cleaning, donating to charity, reading the exodus story or having a meal with family and friends, which is the suggestion of Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, from the Jerusalem Court for Bnei Noah.So, spring cleaning, reading Torah or having a meal with friends are all possibilities for the Noahide. As long as he or she does not establish any ritual observances or establish any customs, it is appropriate to commemorate in some fashion the liberation of the Israelites.But I am more persuaded by another of Rabbi Schwartz’s suggestions, which is to contemplate the concept of human freedom. The exodus from Egypt, says the rabbi, profited Jew and Gentile alike in that it was “a cleansing from the bad habits of mankind.” Obviously, bad habits like theft and immorality are prohibited by the Noahide code. And a non-Jew who cleanses himself from such “bad habits” and commits himself to the Noahide Way becomes one of the “pious ones of the nations” and earns himself an eternal portion in the World to Come.Freedom is one of those words that mean different things to different people. As a journalist, I am thankful I live in a country (the UK) where there is freedom of the press. I am also thankful I am not enslaved by a Pharaoh or a Hitler. On the other hand, too much freedom can be dangerous. Allowing Iran or Hamas or North Korea to act with impunity, for example, endangers the freedom of Israeli and American civilians.There is a difference between liberty and license, which is why G-d commanded the establishment of courts of law. Justice, when it is working properly, protects rather than hinders freedom. So it right and just that murderers, rapists and terrorists have their freedom taken away. But this raises all kinds of issues such as why did G-d create a world in which good and evil can operate freely?The standard answer is that He gave us free will. And although He urges us to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19), we have the choice to do otherwise. But even when we “miss the mark” or “go astray” there is the possibility of repentance, of turning towards Him and following his divine plan for goodness and kindness. Passover is an excellent time to remember G-d’s power to punish and redeem. Even His punishment of the Egyptians is part of a wider redemptive plan – to liberate the Israelites and turn them into a light unto the nations.Indeed, one of the reasons Passover is so important is because it is a prelude to the giving of the Torah, which incorporates and expands upon the Seven Noahide Laws. Indeed, Noahides observe the seven laws because they were commanded at Sinai and not because Adam or Noah received them previously. Also important is the fact that HaShem revealed the Torah. This is crucial because a Noahide is only considered righteous if he accepts the seven Noahide laws as coming from G-d. If he derives the laws from his own intellect, he is not considered righteous.Finally, the exodus is worth contemplating because it is symbolic of the truth that there is no other authority in the universe. Pharaoh’s power is limited, narrow and corrupt – a parody of HaShem’s unlimited and righteous kingship. Both Jews and Noahides proclaim HaShem’s uniqueness, unity and authority. As Rabbi Moshe Weiner states, “it is a continuous obligation for every person to think about and contemplate the existence of the Master of the universe and His greatness, in order to set the knowledge of G-d strongly in his heart and mind.”King David summed it up when he said, “The LORD is beneficent in all His ways and faithful in all His works.” G-d’s goodness and His immense love for the Israelites were demonstrated during the first Passover and the subsequent giving of the Torah. It is the same belief in G-d’s goodness and power that sustains the faith of Noahides who believe that everything HaShem does is for the ultimate good of the individual and the good of the entire world.So, for this Noahide at least, Passover is about contemplating G-d’s gift of freedom, His goodness and His faithfulness towards Jew and Gentile alike. Maybe next year I’ll do some spring cleaning.https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/13069#.UVhCrFdTlogThe Talmud states that Yom Kippur atones for those who repent but it does not atone for those who don’t repent. How does this apply to Noahides who are not expected to attend synagogue or fast for 25 hours? Do Yom Kippur and the preceding Days of Awe apply to Noahides at all?Noahides are gentiles who observe the Noahide Way, a universal moral code which comprises the six commandments given to Adam (according to the Talmud's interpretation of Genesis 2:16) and a seventh precept, which was given to Noah after the Flood. This ancient code was the faith of Noah, Shem, Abram, Job and possibly even Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. These great men had strong ethical beliefs, and enjoyed a fruitful relationship with G-d. Shem, for example, is believed to have been Melchizedek, the King of Salem or Jerusalem, who brought out bread and wine and blessed both Abram and G-d.Returning to the subject of Yom Kippur, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz (a senior lecturer at Dvar Yerushalayim yeshiva in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Nof) agrees that it is not a Noahide fast. However, he does say that repentance is indeed a Noahide necessity. So how do Noahides, who are not supposed to imitate Jewish festivals or create new ones, earn Hashem’s forgiveness for wrongs done to Him and to people?The Tanakh tells us that repentance is available to everyone. The Book of Jonah, which is the Haftarah for the afternoon of Yom Kippur, is a crucial text for Noahides because it relates Hashem’s concern for the inhabitants of Nineveh – all of whom were gentiles. Despite Jonah’s reservations, the Ninevites eagerly accept his message of repentance. As a result, the gentiles of Nineveh are spared destruction.The simplicity of the Ninevites’ repentance, as well as the abundance of G-d’s mercy, is wonderful. The king of Nineveh takes off his royal robes, covers himself with sackcloth and sits in the dust. He calls on his people to stop eating and drinking, and to renounce violence and corruption. The king urges the Ninevites to call on G-d. And as it says in the Bible, when Hashem saw how the Ninevites turned from their evil ways, He relented.During Yom Kippur Noahides are not required to cease eating and drinking like the Ninevites. But Judaism’s holiest day is a timely reminder for Noahides to make amends with other people and to seek forgiveness from G-d, whom we should thank for His benevolence. Prophet Isaiah tells us to “seek Hashem when He can be found; call upon Him when He is near” (55:6). If Yom Kippur is the time when Hashem is “near” to man, it is a good opportunity for Noahides to ask for forgiveness and to make a mental note not to keep making the same mistakes.Isaiah’s words echo Leviticus 18:5 in which Hashem commands the Israelites to “guard my statutes and my laws which, when a man [Ha-Adam] does them, he shall live through them.” Notice how G-d says “man” rather than “Israelite.” So what statutes are men expected to keep? For the Jews, it is the 613 mitzvot. For non-Jews, it is the Noahide Way, which commands the establishment of courts of justice and prohibits idolatry, blasphemy, murder, sexual immorality, theft and cruelty to animals.Of course, very few Noahides will have committed an outright act of theft, for example. But the prohibition against theft – like the other Noahide Laws – is actually a category heading under which a number of smaller commandants are compiled. For instance, the injunction against theft includes refraining from cheating (“You shall not defraud your neighbor” – Leviticus 19:13) and not using false weights and measures ("You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in length, in weight, in quantity” – Leviticus 19:35). Depending on the rabbinical authority, there are not just seven laws, but 30 or even 66 commandments which Noahides are expected to keep.And of course, there are minor transgressions, such as gossiping, ignoring a beggar in the street, lying to our wives, husbands and employers, etcetera. Given time to reflect, most of us would acknowledge that we are guilty of something and that some kind of redress is required – an apology, perhaps, or donating money to a charity for the homeless. Obviously, we don’t have to wait for the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur to make amends but the High Holy Days are a great opportunity to amend our behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done.Because Yom Kippur atones for sins against G-d and not for sins against man (unless the injured party has been appeased), Noahides must earnestly seek forgiveness from others by making amends and making any necessary restitution. Part of the process of teshuva (repentance, literally “returning”) is acknowledging the emotional anguish our words and actions may have caused. As well as easing our conscience, teshuva brings a person closer to Hashem, especially if our repentance is rooted in love of G-d rather than fear. When someone repents out of love, his or her sins are counted as virtues.In other words, teshuva is transformative because it turns our intentional sins into merits. Indeed, some rabbinical authorities argue that the repentant sinner is greater than someone who has never committed a sin.So as Jews gather in synagogues to recite the Kol Nidrei prayer, Noahides may want to reflect on their own faults and moral failures, and ask G-d for His forgiveness. And if that person is truly sorry and has sincerely tried to make amends, then Hashem is sure to show His mercy. And G-d willing, that person will be inscribed in the Book of Life and be granted a happy new year.https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/13812#.UjQvs8Y3uSo "There is one God from whom emanates one morality for all humanity. God's primary demand of people is that they act decently toward one another. If all people subscribed to this simple belief—which does not entail leaving, or joining, any specific religion, or giving up any national identity—the world would experience far less evil. […] The God of ethical monotheism is the God first revealed to the world according to the Jewish Bible." - Dennis Prager, “Ethical Monotheism" The purpose of YHWH's covenant with Abraham was for the well-being and salvation of the whole world: I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) [I]nasmuch as Avraham is sure to become a great and strong nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by him? (Genesis 18:18) Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. (Genesis 28:14) A midrash has God say to Moses: “Do I care about a person’s identity? Whether Israelite or Gentile, man or woman, slave or handmaid, who ever does a good deed shall find the reward at its side.” Jews as priestly peopleRabbi S.R. Hirsch notes on Leviticus 16:5: “That which the priest is to be to the [Jewish] people, the people are to be to the rest of mankind, the ‘leading ram’ at the head of God’s flock of human beings, showing the way to accomplish all that is noble and good.” Hasidic Gentiles Non-Jews who (1) reject all idolatrous ideas and accept the kingship of the One G-d, (2) accept the priesthood of the Jewish people as the guardians and teachers of Torah, and (3) commit to following the Seven Universal Laws as reaffirmed in the Oral Torah revealed at Mt. Sinai are often called "Noahides" or "Hasidic Gentiles." The term "Hasidic Gentile" is derived from a classic commentary by the Rambam, Rav Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides), in The Laws of Kings 8:11: "Anyone who accepts upon himself the fulfillment of these Seven Mitzvos [commandments] and is precise in their observance is considered one of the chassidei umos ha'olam ["Hasidim of the nations of the world"]--the righteous among the nations--and will merit a share in the World to Come."- From noahide.com

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