Tumah
Veteran Member
Noahidism
This thread is meant to be a primer on Jewish Noahidism. Although many people may claim to be Noahides, the term itself (as discussed later) is a Jewish term originating in Jewish literature and refers to a specific concept. It’s that concept that I'm going to be discussing here. Its quite long and I don't expect most people to go through it, however it may be a good resource for interested people and questions are welcome.
This is in no way a fully comprehensive discourse on the topic, as there is more to be studied about almost every point made here. And many more points to discuss that are not discussed here. For the most part, sources and logic behind statements made here have been excluded. In the vast majority of times, the source is a Talmudic passage. One of the books on this subject that I culled much of this information from has over 800 pages, and even that is not exhaustive. Rather, my intention here is to present a general overview of the Laws and ideas of Jewish Noahidism, so that there is more clarity about it and what it entails. There is much more to learn and it’s precisely this - what is called the Noahides' Torah - that will be discussed here.
I'll be primarily taking information from Maimonides' Mishneh Torah with regards to Laws, as he is the first one to really codify them in a systematic way. It should be noted that Maimonides' opinions are not the only ones on the subject and there are other Halachic (related to Jewish Law) arbitrators who may disagree on any given point. I will also be taking many points from a number of other sources as well. Not everything is sourced here, as not all the sources were easily available online (there may be some laziness involved here as well).
Some Background
The actual Hebrew word for Noahide is "ben Noach (בן נח - lit. son of Noah)". The truth is that this phrase historically refers to any non-Jew or non-Jewess as being a descendant of Noah. The technical ramifications of the term refer to the Laws that all people descendant from Noah are obligated in. This term doesn't make any indication as to whether the person follows these laws or not. This term also includes Abraham and all of his descendants until the generation that received the Torah at Mt. Sinai. At the point the Israelites received the Torah they became bound by many more Laws, essentially removing them from the practical category of “Noahide.” The term “Noahide” also excluded non-Jewish slaves owned by Jews (as these slaves are required to go through a semi-conversion or be sold back to a non-Jew). In this respect, according to some opinions, a Ger Toshav (see below) is also excluded from the "Noahide" category.
There are a number of opinions regarding the history of the Noahide Laws.
- According to the Zohar, Adam was actually taught all the Laws of the Torah and he taught it to Seth who passed it down until Enoch, who passed it down until Shem. However, after the Flood, G-d decided that the following generations wouldn't follow all the laws of the Torah, and instead limited them to just upholding the Noahide Laws.
- According to the Talmud, there are various opinions as to which Laws Adam (and later Noah), were commanded. According to one opinion, Adam was only given the commandment against idol-worship.
- According to another opinion, he was commanded against both idol-worship and cursing G-d. A third opinion adds adjudication, etc.
- According to Maimonides, Adam was given six of the commandments, and the last commandment was given to Noah.
- Other opinions hold that Adam was commanded in all seven and then G-d reiterated two of them to Noah.
This is of course, aside for the temporary commandments they were commanded to perform.
Although the Talmud seems to derive the seven Noahide Laws from Gen. 2:16, the commentators (this and this) explain that verse Gen. 2:16 is actually just a convenient verse that acts as a mnemonic to sum up all the Laws the Rabbis knew to already exist.
Another question the commentators ask is, on what basis anyone is required to follow the Noahide Laws. The most common answer is that Adam, Noah, and Shem were acknowledged as prophets, and therefore, on the basis of their prophecy, they can obligate others. Another opinion is that Adam and Noah's acceptance of the Laws was binding on their children. Lastly, a third opinion is that since our purpose for being created is to perform G-d's Will, once we are notified as to what that Will is, we are automatically required to fulfill it.
Resident Alien
The technical term for a non-Jew who does accept on himself to follow the Noahide Laws is "Ger Toshav (גר תושב - lit. Resident Alien)". For a non-Jew to gain this title, he must accept on himself the Noahide Laws in the presence of a three-man Jewish court. After achieving “Ger Toshav” status, the Ger Toshav may live in Jewish cities in Israel and Jews are required to help financially support the Ger Toshav. A Ger Toshav may also run to a City of Refuge in certain cases of accidental murder. (This is something not available to other non-Jews.)
There is another benefit to accepting the Noahide Laws on oneself in this manner, as a Ger Toshav. The Talmud teaches that G-d saw that the children of Noah were not fulfilling the Noahide Laws, so He nullified the Noahide Laws. According to many opinions, this means he lowered the reward of their fulfillment to that of someone who is "not commanded, and does" (see below "Keeping Other Laws). In this case, because the children of Noah did not see themselves as obligated to fulfilled the Noahide Laws, their reward was correspondingly lowered to the same level as someone who is not obligated in a commandment. However, by becoming a Ger Toshav (accepting the Noahide laws upon oneself in front of a court), one can return to the status of receiving the original level of reward (per here).
This thread is meant to be a primer on Jewish Noahidism. Although many people may claim to be Noahides, the term itself (as discussed later) is a Jewish term originating in Jewish literature and refers to a specific concept. It’s that concept that I'm going to be discussing here. Its quite long and I don't expect most people to go through it, however it may be a good resource for interested people and questions are welcome.
This is in no way a fully comprehensive discourse on the topic, as there is more to be studied about almost every point made here. And many more points to discuss that are not discussed here. For the most part, sources and logic behind statements made here have been excluded. In the vast majority of times, the source is a Talmudic passage. One of the books on this subject that I culled much of this information from has over 800 pages, and even that is not exhaustive. Rather, my intention here is to present a general overview of the Laws and ideas of Jewish Noahidism, so that there is more clarity about it and what it entails. There is much more to learn and it’s precisely this - what is called the Noahides' Torah - that will be discussed here.
I'll be primarily taking information from Maimonides' Mishneh Torah with regards to Laws, as he is the first one to really codify them in a systematic way. It should be noted that Maimonides' opinions are not the only ones on the subject and there are other Halachic (related to Jewish Law) arbitrators who may disagree on any given point. I will also be taking many points from a number of other sources as well. Not everything is sourced here, as not all the sources were easily available online (there may be some laziness involved here as well).
Some Background
The actual Hebrew word for Noahide is "ben Noach (בן נח - lit. son of Noah)". The truth is that this phrase historically refers to any non-Jew or non-Jewess as being a descendant of Noah. The technical ramifications of the term refer to the Laws that all people descendant from Noah are obligated in. This term doesn't make any indication as to whether the person follows these laws or not. This term also includes Abraham and all of his descendants until the generation that received the Torah at Mt. Sinai. At the point the Israelites received the Torah they became bound by many more Laws, essentially removing them from the practical category of “Noahide.” The term “Noahide” also excluded non-Jewish slaves owned by Jews (as these slaves are required to go through a semi-conversion or be sold back to a non-Jew). In this respect, according to some opinions, a Ger Toshav (see below) is also excluded from the "Noahide" category.
There are a number of opinions regarding the history of the Noahide Laws.
- According to the Zohar, Adam was actually taught all the Laws of the Torah and he taught it to Seth who passed it down until Enoch, who passed it down until Shem. However, after the Flood, G-d decided that the following generations wouldn't follow all the laws of the Torah, and instead limited them to just upholding the Noahide Laws.
- According to the Talmud, there are various opinions as to which Laws Adam (and later Noah), were commanded. According to one opinion, Adam was only given the commandment against idol-worship.
- According to another opinion, he was commanded against both idol-worship and cursing G-d. A third opinion adds adjudication, etc.
- According to Maimonides, Adam was given six of the commandments, and the last commandment was given to Noah.
- Other opinions hold that Adam was commanded in all seven and then G-d reiterated two of them to Noah.
This is of course, aside for the temporary commandments they were commanded to perform.
Although the Talmud seems to derive the seven Noahide Laws from Gen. 2:16, the commentators (this and this) explain that verse Gen. 2:16 is actually just a convenient verse that acts as a mnemonic to sum up all the Laws the Rabbis knew to already exist.
Another question the commentators ask is, on what basis anyone is required to follow the Noahide Laws. The most common answer is that Adam, Noah, and Shem were acknowledged as prophets, and therefore, on the basis of their prophecy, they can obligate others. Another opinion is that Adam and Noah's acceptance of the Laws was binding on their children. Lastly, a third opinion is that since our purpose for being created is to perform G-d's Will, once we are notified as to what that Will is, we are automatically required to fulfill it.
Resident Alien
The technical term for a non-Jew who does accept on himself to follow the Noahide Laws is "Ger Toshav (גר תושב - lit. Resident Alien)". For a non-Jew to gain this title, he must accept on himself the Noahide Laws in the presence of a three-man Jewish court. After achieving “Ger Toshav” status, the Ger Toshav may live in Jewish cities in Israel and Jews are required to help financially support the Ger Toshav. A Ger Toshav may also run to a City of Refuge in certain cases of accidental murder. (This is something not available to other non-Jews.)
There is another benefit to accepting the Noahide Laws on oneself in this manner, as a Ger Toshav. The Talmud teaches that G-d saw that the children of Noah were not fulfilling the Noahide Laws, so He nullified the Noahide Laws. According to many opinions, this means he lowered the reward of their fulfillment to that of someone who is "not commanded, and does" (see below "Keeping Other Laws). In this case, because the children of Noah did not see themselves as obligated to fulfilled the Noahide Laws, their reward was correspondingly lowered to the same level as someone who is not obligated in a commandment. However, by becoming a Ger Toshav (accepting the Noahide laws upon oneself in front of a court), one can return to the status of receiving the original level of reward (per here).