Purpose of the 7 Laws – Part 2
In the first part we discussed the overall
goal of the 7 laws and differentiated them from the 613 mitzvos for the Jew. I would
like to continue on that and examine how this looks in the real world today.
If we look at the Noahide world today we
see that there is little or no emphasis on acts that will make this world a
better place. Attention is given to performing religious acts that do not
further the purpose in creation for the non-Jew. There are a few reasons for
that failure. Some are based on the Noahides themselves and their religious
background and others on the Rabbis who are teaching Noahides.
***
In general Noahides have come out of the
Christian church. They have recognized it as the false religion it is. But this
is half of the battle that a Noahide faces. King David says: ‘Turn from evil
and do good’. Leaving the Church starts the fulfilment of the first part of
King David’s injunction, but that does nothing for the second part.
In the church they have been raised with
ideas about Torah, Tenach and Judaism and what HaShem wants of people from
that. The problem is that while the Tenach has much that can be useful for the
non-Jew, it was not written for them nor is it about them. It is about HaShem’s
interaction with the Jewish people, what He has done for them, and what they
have done. It is not always the best guide for the non-Jew.
As an example; for the Jew the Exodus is
about how his ancestors were freed from slavery, for the non-Jew it shows how
HaShem is merciful and fulfills His word. This does not mean that there are not
inspiring stories and universal truths, just that when it says ‘say to the
children of Israel’, that is not universal.
As I pointed out in the first section
there is a difference in what HaShem wants and expects of the Jew and the
non-Jew. This is based on the difference in their purpose and goals in this
world.
***
The Torah tells us that HaShem said to
Avraham: ‘Leave your land, your birthplace, and your father’s house and go to
the land I will show you.’ It says in the Jewish works of moral instruction
that HaShem was telling Avraham that before he could come to the service of
HaShem he needs to rid himself of the habits he had acquired in his youth. These
are in three levels, and they can apply also to the Noahide.
*
First is ‘from your land’. This is the
leaving of their false religions. This is the easiest and the first step for
the Noahide. Noahides grow up in communities where Christianity is taken as a
given, as absolute truth and from God. The Noahide has taken that first step of
rejection of that falsehood.
*
The Second is ‘your birthplace.’ This
refers to those ideas that underlie these false religions. For example, it is
not uncommon for Noahides to carry over Christian thought patterns and
approaches to the Noahide way of life. There are two areas where we see this:
Noahides are coming mostly from
Evangelical backgrounds and are trained in Bible studies. They see regular
Bible studies as a requirement of God for them. It involves certain ways of
learning, but Christian Bible study is not Jewish learning of Torah. They see
the study of Scripture and its interpretation as based on individual effort and
knowledge. This is wrong.
In Torah all actions have a purpose. For
the Noahide all religious learning is practical and goal oriented. The goal
being to fulfil their purpose in this world. But learning the Tenach does not
teach much about that. It is found more explicitly in the words of our Rabbis.
The basic laws for the Noahide are easily
taught and I will in fact be writing short articles on each one telling what it
is and how a Noahide can live their life in accordance with the specific law.
But there is no mitzvah to learn for the Noahide as there is for the Jew. The
spiritual benefit a Jew gets from learning is not enjoyed by the non-Jew.
A certain degree of learning is needed
for the knowledge needed to live your life. But beyond that there is no
obligation. (And in some cases it is forbidden.) And it certainly is not the
primary function of the Noahides life. The Rabbinic dictum ‘it is not the learning
but the action that is the main thing’ applies especially to the Noahides.
Second; coming from Christianity they see
Judaism as a religion of rituals and ‘works’. They therefore see being a Noahide
in the same light. Same system, different commandments.
This is contrary to what we have seen.
There are no ritual requirements, nor any need of them. As to actions there are
limited commands. It is not a ‘religion’ at all, nor does it require regular
‘study’.
However the Noahide who does understand
what his or her purpose is will have a world outlook that requires certain
actions which cannot be listed as the 7 or 613 mitzvos are listed. Actions
which logically will lead to more peace and stability, and increase the well-being
of the world, and especially the Jewish people.
*
Third is ‘from your father’s house’. This
refers to certain approaches that a Noahide grew up with in his old religion,
like Sola Scriptura, and individual autonomy. Egalitarianism and other things
that are not consistent with Torah.
In the end the goal of the Noahide is
very much like that of the Jew: fulfil HaShem’s will for him as a person and a
Noahide.
***
In a sense, as Rabbis and teachers we
have exacerbated the problem. While it is certainly the case that some of those
involved have intentions other than to fulfil HaShem’s will, and spreading
Torah to the world, most are not like that. We need to see why they have so far
failed to impart to the Noahides the ideas I have outlined above, which are known
to them. I think the problem comes from two things:
First, we are Jews. We understand our
relationship to HaShem in a certain way. Our relationship to HaShem is through
learning Torah and doing mitzvos. The mitzvos bring spiritual strength and
benefits to our Nashamos, and learning Torah, which is also a mitzvah, connects
us directly to the Will of HaShem. (As is know from the sefer Tanya of the
Alter Rebbe ZT’L) The solution to our spiritual problems is more learning and
more mitzvos, For the Noahide that is not the outlet for increased spirituality.
There is a Chassidic saying that clearly applies to the Noahide and his spirituality:
“The other persons physical needs are your spiritual needs”.
Second, we are people who are compassionate.
When we are working with Noahides we recognize that they have, because of their
leaving Christianity, a feeling of being lost and having no direction. We wish
to fill their psychological and spiritual needs in ways that are consistent
with Torah, and which the Noahide feels comfortable with.
Because of this we tend to concentrate on
issues of what they can and cannot do, and not explaining the full picture. This
is a disservice to the Noahides, and leads them to have a wrong outlook on what
their purpose is and what they should be doing.
***
What are we doing wrong?
What we are doing wrong is obvious to
anyone who steps back and examines the situation. Are Noahides out there
improving our world? No. Why is that? Because as Rabbis we have them involved
with learning intricate details in Jewish law and/or arguing about how many
mitzvos apply to them or involvement in numerous other irrelevant things. What we
don’t do is tell them how to practically apply things to their life. Ask a
Noahide if they can go to the local Walmart and buy a whole non-kosher chicken,
and they will be unsure.
We burden them with keeping holidays that
don’t relate to them. Should they do this or that on Passover or Shabbos? But
we don’t encourage them to help their fellow men and other things that ARE
their mandate, and purpose in this world.
In a sense we are violating the Rambam
and all the poskim in making what appears to be a new religion for non-Jews. Putting
the emphasis on more learning and actions in imitation of Jewish mitzvos is not
what we should be doing and saying. (I will discuss this at length late.)
***
What should we be doing?
I will in other articles deal with the
halachic issues around not just the 7 mitzvos but also if they may do more and
what conditions they are allowed to do more according to those who say they
can.
However first and foremost we need to
deemphasize intensive learning and performance of the Eidos and Chukim that
apply to Jews exclusively, and deal with practical issues of the 7 laws and
those things needed to further world harmony and stability.
Instead of the type of learning we see,
we need to encourage the reading of books that will be helpful for them. For
example Artscroll and other publishers have come out in recent years with
pseudo biographical works about many Rabbis. They emphasize the good works and
traits of these Rabbis. There is much for non-Jews to gain from that just as
Jews gain from that.
I will try in the next few articles, to
fill in this important information and by doing so, to show the Noahides how to
live a full and satisfying life in accord with what HaShem wants of them.
We need to also keep in mind that we want
to guide Noahides so that they are not dependent on us constantly. It is easy
to teach what they need to know of the laws, and then guide them to act as
individuals (or as a group) to further world harmony and stability.
***
What should organizations be doing?
The Torah and Codes of Law never indicate
that there should be an organized group of Noahides. It sees them as
individuals. What has happened is that in recent years many non-Jews have left
Christianity and because of the internet they meet each other. While it was not
intentional; the Noahide movement just is. This can be a force for good, but it
can also be a negative force leading to a new religion. At this time it can go
either way.
What should organizations do in order to
further HaShem’s plan for non-Jews and not drift into a new religion divorced
from HaShem and Torah?
1.
Spreading 7 laws – the primary function is to spread the laws to
other non-Jews
2.
Provide basic materials on the 7 laws. The preferred way is like
that used by Rav Yoel Schwartz, which just lists what is allowed or not. (I
will be having a few articles for that purpose with the emphasis on
understanding the general principles so that they can be applied to real life
situations.)
3.
Provide lists of qualified Scholars who can be consulted and are
willing to answer more difficult issues.
4.
Inspirational lectures – rather than on intricacies of law, talks
on personal improvement. Discussions of stories of the Tanach are also good.
5.
Making charitable organizations – This is a very important function
as it leads to the spreading of the laws. A Vendyl Jones Memorial Hospital is
more worthwhile than a Yeshiva for Noahides. Such an endeavor would show that
Noahides have finally started to focus on the goal.
6.
Political action – Get involved in activities that will further
observance of the 7 laws.
This is just an outline and I am sure
with thought more can be done.
***
To summarize: The purpose of the 7 laws
is to transform the non-Jew into a person who is sensitive to his or her
responsibility to transform this world into a place of peace and stability,
where it is possible for the knowledge of HaShem to be spread out.
