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The Seven Noahide Laws are general prohibitions against
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G*d commanded Noah and all his descendants, to obey the Seven Laws.
The rainbow and its seven colors serves as a visual reminder of
our obligation, to observe the Seven Laws of Noah. G*d gave Mankind two paths(1) by which the unity of man can be realized.
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There is no source, outside the Talmud and the later rabbinic teachings(2),
that delineates the Seven Commandments of the Children of Noah.
Only from the Orthodox Jews do we learn, what our religious duty is,
and how to fulfill it, through the observance of the Seven Noahide Laws. | |
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Fulfilling the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah
requires a fundamental knowledge and understanding of
certain precepts and principles, i.e. the non-Jew must
have the realization of the One True G-d, blessed is He;
that G-d's holy Torah was given to all mankind; that
ethics and morals must become part of life; and lastly,
humanity must bind together in unity - in belief in the
unity of G-d and in the unity of mankind. Thankfully, this
unity will allow all people, both Jew and non-Jew, to
approach G-d in peace and harmony, and will bring
peace to Yerushalayim.(3)
The non-Jew has a specific spiritual role and purpose
in this world, and a specific purpose for his very creation
and existence. Through the faithful observance of the
Seven Noahide Commandments, one can fulfill that
purpose - striving with the Children of Israel (the Jews) to
perfect this world; the essence of our existence as
co-religionists and the fulfillment of our created purpose
will bring revealed G-dliness onto this world, and G-d
will, so to speak, have great satisfaction in His creation. | |
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The realization of, and faith in, the One True G-d is
necessary for the non-Jew. Once the non-Jew has belief
in the G-d of Israel, then he will realize, that he has been
commanded to keep Seven Universal Laws and Ethics
based on a belief in G-d. The Hebrew word for
commandment is mitzvah (plural: mitzvot). The Seven
Laws of the Children of Noah are mitzvot for all mankind;
even the Jews must observe them, for they are part of
the 613 mitzvot, which G-d commands for Israel.
The Seven Noahide Laws are part of the Covenant of
Everlasting Life (the Covenant of the Rainbow) - they are
the basic requirements, that G-d has mandated to all the
descendants of Noah, the observance of which will
ensure a civilized and peaceful world. Whether the
non-Jew chooses to observe the Sheva Mitzvot B'nei
Noach (the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah), is
another issue - the issue of free will. | |
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G-d created man with the intrinsic attribute of free will.
Nothing else in G-d's Creation was imbued with this
characteristic. Man has the free will to choose to keep
G-d's commandments. Some choose to keep His
commandments, and others choose not to keep His
commandments. The choice of some, to not observe the
Seven Noahide Laws does not negate the Laws'
existence. Man is ultimately responsible for observing
G-d's commandments, and will receive merit for
observing them, or will receive punishment for willfully
failing to keep his duty. The key is to keep the
commandments, because G-d commanded them; therein
lies our reward.
For example, one can choose not to commit homicide,
because he feels it is ethically the right thing to do. This
does not give him merit - he enthrones himself as the
supreme judge, judging on his own whim, whether a
certain act is ethically right or wrong. This type of person
is denying G-d, replacing Him, G-d forbid, with his own
idol - himself. This, of course, is forbidden by G-d. We
must choose to do, what G-d wants. There is a teaching:
Greater is the one, who is commanded and does
something, than the one who is not commanded and
does it.(4)
Doing what G-d commands, is the only thing that matters. | |
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Once the non-Jew recognizes the unity of G-d, and
recognizes, that the observance of the mitzvot, is what
unites mankind, he will then understand how he can
cleave to G-d and have a share in the Olam haBa.
"When a person becomes separate from sin and takes
up the yoke of Heaven, then that person becomes
Mine."(5) | |
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By courtesy from ...., sorry, I forgot, who did this fine job! | |
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(The following I copied from Segal's site.) G-d originally gave commandments to Adam and Eve to observe and to teach to their descendants. After the Great Flood, G-d repeated the Seven Commandments to Noah, his family, and all their descendants -- which includes all of us. This is the meaning of the term Noahide. When G-d revealed Himself at Mount Sinai, He gave Moses and the Jewish people the duty, to convey these commandments to the rest of the people of the world. G-d also gave the Jewish people additional commandments to fulfill. The Seven Commandments are general categories, which contain many details:
These seven universal laws are a matter of obedience to G-d, even if they are part of the laws of our country. Their observance guarantees peace and goodwill among all people through universal faith. Any non-Jewish person, who fulfills the Seven Commandments, is considered righteous and earns a share of the Eternal World to Come. Jews are rewarded for fulfilling their 613 commandments. HONORING PARENTS and GIVING CHARITY are time-honored observances, that have become part of this doctrine. Although these commandments seem quite simple, profound principles of faith motivate us, to fulfill them:
-- Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson The Lubavitcher Rebbe * Get more information about the Seven Noahide Commandments from these sources: The Seven Laws of Noah, by Aaron Lichtenstein (New York: Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Press and Z. Berman Books, 1981, out of print) The Path of the Righteous Gentile, by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky This introduction includes a full translation of Maimonides' Code on the Seven Commandments. (Southfield, Michigan: Targum Press, 1987) The Seven Colors of the Rainbow, by Rabbi Yirmeyahu Bindman Besides explaining Torah ethics for non-Jews, this book gives a historical overview of observance of the Seven Commandments. (San Jose, California: Resource Publications, 1995) The Internet: Judaism Looks at the World You will find parts of The Path of the Righteous Gentile here. Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith | |
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By courtesy from Mr. Segal (~seggle), who did this fine job! |
By the grace of G-d
From the book The Thirteen Principles of Faith: a Chasidic Viewpoint by Noson Gurary compiled and edited by Moshe Miller Reprinted by permission of the publisher, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale, New Jersey © 1996
Maimonides' thirteen principles, which he described as the roots and foundations of the Jewish religion, first appeared in his Commentary on the Mishnah as an introduction to the final chapter of the tractate Sanhedrin. They were subsequently abbreviated and were later appended to many versions of the daily prayer book. To this day, they constitute one of the clearest statements of Jewish belief ever written. In Hasidic literature, the thirteen principles have received a scholarly and methodical analysis. This volume is based on the teachings and writings of several of the most prominent Hasidic masters, notably those of the Lubavitch dynasty. Each principle is treated as a meditation, a soul-illuminating insight into the very depths of one's being, the nature of G-d and His teachings, and the Torah. This work is not an exposition but rather an expedition into the thirteen principles of faith. Hasidic philosophy views all of Torah as a manifestation of G-d Himself. Thus the thirteen principles are not merely descriptive, a philosophical statement of lofty Jewish ideals. Their intention is experiential: they are intended to be an encounter with ourselves, with the axioms upon which we base our lives, with the wisdom of G-d, and ultimately, as a happy encounter with G-d Himself. The first chapter of this work discusses why there are only thirteen fundamental principles and how to broadly apply them to the entire structure of Jewish faith. The chapter moves on to explain why Maimonides begins each principle with the words, "I believe with complete faith," which would appear to contradict his premise that the most fundamental of principles is knowing -- not believing -- that G-d exists. Gurary then goes on to examine each principle in great detail, how it defines a person's relationship to G-d and Torah, and how to apply each principle as a way of life. The Author Noson Gurary is an ordained rabbi and Jewish judge. He received his rabbinic ordination at the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York. He recently (as of publishing in 1996) received his doctorate in Jewish philosophy from the Moscow Lomonosov University in Russia. Rabbi Gurary is currently the executive director of the Chabad Houses in upstate New York and has taught in the Judaic Studies Department at State University of New York, Buffalo, for the past twenty-four years. He has published numerous articles in rabbinic publications and has lectured on campuses all over the United States. Rabbi Gurary lives in Buffalo, New York, with his wife and seven children. The Publisher
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Maimonides' Own Conclusion When a person believes in all these principles and clearly lives according to his or her faith in them, then they join the community of Israel. Then the individuals of the community must love them, have mercy upon them, and conduct themselves similarly to how the Al-mighty commanded us concerning the treatment of our fellow Israelites one to another, with the fullest love and fellowship. Even if this person should ever transgress G-d's will due to uncontrolled lust or the inferiority of his nature overpowering him, this person only deserves punishment according to his sin. However, this person still retains the eternal reward of the World to Come. This person is regarded as a sinner in the midst of the community of Israel. However, if a person disregards any of the Thirteen Principles, he leaves the community because he is a heretic. Then the community must hate him and destroy him. When King David said, "I hate those who hate You, O L-rd" (Psalm 139:21), he was referring to such a heretic. This has been a lengthy digression within my explanation of the Mishnah. However, I have done so because I have seen its benefit for faith, since I assembled the beneficial content from the classics of our faith. Know these principles! Learn them well! Go over them often, and meditate well upon them! |