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THE SEVEN UNIVERSAL LAWS....THE RABBIS COMMENT

For the most part I accept what the Rabbis have taught concerning the Laws of Noah. However there are some exceptions which I think can be shown to find their origin in the Jew's desire to separate themselves from the Gentile nations. That being the case often Rabbinical "rulings" of a negative nature were made to guarantee a distance or a separation be made between the Jewish people and the non-Jewish nations of the world. Let me say right up front that I understand the motive and desire for such separation for often that meant that the Jewish people would be safeguarded from the cruelty of the Gentile nations as well as distancing themselves from the opportunity of Gentile paganism infecting the Jewish people though compromise. The following are collections of Rabbinical teachings and ruling regarding the non-Jew and his relationship with God. I will address those issues that I feel should be reevaluated as we get to them. Understand before we proceed that sometimes Rabbis wrote opinions that seem to limit the non-Jew in the practice of his faith, the study of the Torah, etc. Again as stated above these negative "comments" can be shown to violate what the Prophets had earlier said and should be taken with a grain of salt and understanding of the conditions imposed upon these Jews by the non-Jews of the times in which these comments were made.

With respect God's commandments, all of humanity is divided into two general classifications - the Children of Israel and the Children of Noah.

The Children of Israel are the Jews, the descendants of the Patriarch Jacob. They are commanded to fulfill the 613 commandments of the Torah.
The Children of Noah are the Gentiles, comprising the seventy nations of the world. They are commanded concerning the Seven Universal Laws, also known as the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah or the Seven Noahide Laws.

These Seven Universal Laws pertain to:

Idolatry
Blasphemy
Murder
Theft
Sexual relations
Eating the Limb of a Living Animal
Establishing courts of law

All Seven Universal Laws are prohibitions.

Negative commandments are of a higher order than positive commandments. The Godly light they elicit is drawn from too high a source to be enclothed in actions using something of this physical world. One can merit the divine reward elicited from so high a source only by rejecting a forbidden action in this physical world.

Men and women are equal in their responsibility to observe the Seven Universal Laws.

It is a matter of dispute as to when a person becomes responsible for his or her actions under these Laws. One opinion holds that it depends on the intellectual development of the individual.

According to this opinion, as soon as a child has attained the maturity to understand the meaning and significance of the Seven Universal Laws he is obligated to the fullest extent of the Law. The other opinion is that a boy reaches the age of legal responsibility at his thirteenth birthday and a girl at her twelfth birthday.

When one of the Children of Noah resolves to fulfill the Seven Universal Laws, his or her soul is elevated. This person becomes one of the Chasidei Umot Haolam - Pious Ones of the Nations - and receives a share of the Eternal World. The Holy Scriptures calls one who accepts the yoke of fulfilling the Seven Universal Laws a Ger Toshav - a Proselyte of the Gate.

This person is permitted to live in the land of Israel and to enter to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and to offer sacrifices to the God of Israel.

Although the Children of Noah are commanded only concerning the Seven Universal Laws, they are permitted to observe any of the 613 commandments of the Torah for the sake of receiving divine reward.

BUT NOW THE RABBIS MAKE EXCEPTIONS.....

The exceptions to this are:

Observing the Sabbath in the manner of the Jews. (resting from the actions that were needed for the building of the Tabernacle during the Exodus from Egypt.)
Observing the Jewish Holidays in the manner of the Jews. (Resting in a similar manner to the Sabbath.)
Studying those parts of the Torah which do not apply to the Noahide's service of God.
Writing a Torah scroll (the Five Books of Moses) or receiving an aliyah to the Torah (reading a portion of the Torah at a public gathering).
Making, writing, or wearing Tefillin, which are the phylacteries worn during prayer that contain portions of the Torah.
Writing or affixing a mezuzah, the parchment containing portions of the Torah, to one's doorposts or gateposts.
A prime purpose of the Seven Universal Laws is to teach the Children of Noah about the oneness of God and therefore, those parts of Torah that pertain to this knowledge are permissible for him to study.
Also, since the Seven Universal Laws were given on Mount Sinai at the time when the Torah was given to the Jewish people, scriptural portions describing the Revelation at Sinai are also permissible.

This may be extended to include a Biblical description of the exodus from Egypt of the Children of Israel, since that was a preparation for the revelation of God at Mount Sinai. And obviously, any study that brings greater knowledge concerning the performance of the Seven Noahide Laws is permissible. But clearly, any Talmudic or Halachic study of commandments that pertain only to Jews is strictly forbidden, for the Noahide who studies portions of the Torah that do not pertain to him damages his soul.)

NOW WE MUST THINK FOR OURSELVES

One must understand before reading the next two comments that at many times in the history of the Jewish nation dislike and hatred toward the non-Jew by the Jew was very high. After repeated captivities and cruelties inflicted upon the Jewish people though association with the non-Jew the Jewish people quickly found that almost any relationship with the non-Jew brought death in many forms to them and their families. That being the case over time "fences" were put up to keep the non-Jew at a distance and some of the following Rabbinical rulings reflect such an attitudes and spirit. This is a fact that is demonstrated clearly beyond any doubt by the very fact that the Torah instructs the non-Jew in such matters and calls the non-Jew to a higher relationship with God whereby he is instructed by God to take upon himself part of higher covenants given Jew as he acquired for himself more mitzvoth and commandments as part of his life. This would not be possible without study of the Torah, the Prophets, and the writings. Such is called "pleasing God" in Isa. 56 and we find sprinkled in among various Rabbinical comments such actions on the part of the non-Jew deserving of death.

Isa 56:1-8 1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. (KJV)

Thus we have a choice; to accept Isaiah and other prophets or a few Jewish comments directed at keeping the non-Jew at arm's length. I hope you can see and understand the need for discernment when reading the Rabbis. Most Rabbis' comments reflect the very spirit of the Torah and when done so they should be seen as reflective of the will of the Holy Spirit. At other times they have to be taken with a grain of salt as we try to understand their motivation for such comments made hundreds and hundreds of years ago when under terrible persecutions by the non-Jews. Now...lets read some of these Rabbinical comments:

If a Noahide is striving in the learning of Torah or keeping the Sabbath in the manner of Jews or reveals new aspects of Torah, he is to be beaten and punished and informed that he is liable for the death penalty, but he is not killed.
The beatings and other punishments are only meant to dissuade him from doing forbidden acts. If the court that is established in consonance with the Seven Universal Laws gives the death penalty to a Noahide, the execution is considered an atonement for this person's transgression, and consequently one who transgresses and is punished by the court can merit a portion in the World to Come. Furthermore, the Noahide must experience reincarnation in order to do atonement for the transgressions he has previously done.

The responsibility of The Seven Noahide Laws is a yoke of faith in God. This means that the laws must be observed solely because God commanded them. If the Children of Noah were to observe these Seven Universal Laws for any reason or intention other than to fulfill God's will, the performance is invalid and no divine reward is received. This means that if one of the Children of Noah says, "These laws seem sensible and beneficial, therefore, I will observe them," his actions accomplish nothing and he receives no reward.

When one of the Children of Noah engages in the study of the Seven Universal Laws, he is able to attain a spiritual level higher than the High Priest of the Jews, who alone has the sanctity to enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem.

If one of the Children of Noah wishes to accept the full responsibility of the Torah and the 613 commandments, he or she can convert and become a Jew in every respect. One who elects to do this is called a Ger Tzedek - a Righteous Proselyte.

It is a principle of Judaism, however, not to seek converts and one who requests conversion is generally discouraged. Should the person persist in his or her desire to convert, counsel should be taken only with an Orthodox Rabbi or scholar, for conversion not in accord with Halacha - Torah Law - is no conversion at all, and conversion bestowed by rabbis who themselves do not follow the Laws of the Torah are null and void, neither recognized in heaven nor by any God-fearing Jew.

It is incorrect to think that since the Children of Israel have 613 commandments and the Children of Noah have seven commandments, that the ratio of spiritual worth is proportionally 613 to seven.

The truth is that the Seven Universal Laws are general commandments, each containing many parts and details, whereas the 613 Commandments of the Torah are specific, each relating to one basic detail of the Divine Law. Therefore, the numerical disparity in no way reflects the relative spiritual worth of the two systems of commandments.

The statutory punishment for transgressing any one of the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah is death.

According to some, it is the same whether one transgresses intentionally or because of ignorance of the of the Law.

According to others, a transgressor of the Noahide Law because of ignorance receives the death penalty only in the case of murder.
If the courts cannot punish an individual for lack of witnesses or any other reason (see section on Courts of Law), the transgressor will be punished by divine decree.
Besides the Seven Universal Laws, the Children of Noah have traditionally taken it upon themselves to fulfill the commandment of honoring mother and father.
Also, some are of the opinion that the Children of Noah are obligated to fulfill the commandment of giving charity. Others state that it is proper and meritorious for the Children of Noah to give charity but that it is not actually commanded of them
If a Noahide who follows the Seven Universal Laws gives charity, the Israelites accept it from him, and give it to the poor of Israel since through the merit of giving charity to the poor among the Jewish people one is given life by God and saved from death (see Matt. 19 and Jesus' teaching on this) .But a Gentile who does not accept the yoke of the Seven Noahide Laws and gives charity is not permitted to give it to the needy of Israel. His charity may be given only to poor Gentiles.
If one of the Children of Noah arises and performs a miracle and says that God sent him, then instructs others to add or subtract from any of the Seven Universal Laws or explains them in a way not heard at Mount Sinai, or claims that the 613 commandments given to the Jews are not eternal, but limited to a fixed period of time, this person is deemed a false prophet and incurs the death penalty (THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THE JEWISH FAITH AND THE COVENANT OF NOAH BY GENTILE CHRISTIANITY FOR 1800 YEARS)!
There is an oral tradition that the Children of Noah are forbidden to interbreed animals of different species or to graft trees of different kinds.
They may wear shaatnez clothing containing both wool and linen and they may plant different seeds such as grape and wheat in the same field, which are forbidden to the Jews.
Forbidden interbreeding and grafting does not require the death penalty in a court of law. A Noahide that strikes an Israelite, causing even the slightest wound, even though he is theoretically condemned for this, he does not suffer the death penalty.
The Sages of Israel state that Children of Ketura (the sons of Abraham's concubine, Hagar) who were born after Ishmael and
Isaac are obligated to be circumcised. And since today the descendants of Ishmael are intermixed with the descendants of Hagar, all are obligated to be circumcised on the eighth day after they are born. Those transgressing this are given the death penalty.
One opinion holds that the six sons of Hagar only and not their descendants are obligated to be circumcised. And other authorities are of the opinion that this obligatory circumcision has only to do with semitic peoples, although all other nations are allowed to circumcise if they desire.
In accord with the Seven Universal Laws, man is enjoined against creating any religion based on his own intellect. He either develops religion based on these Divine Laws or becomes a Righteous Proselyte, a Jew, and accepts all 613 commandments of the Torah.

Concerning making a holiday for themselves, a Noahide can participate in a Jewish holiday, such as Shavuoth - The Feast of Weeks - when the Torah was given since the Children of Noah received their commandments at that time as well, or Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Day of Judgement, since all mankind is judged by God on that day and, therefore, should be important to the Noahide as well as the Israelite. Rosh Hashanah also is the day Adam, the first man, was created by God, and all mankind is descended from Adam just as it is from Noah. Even these, however, the Noahide celebrates only in order to bring additional merit and reward for himself, and may not rest in the manner of the Jews. Moreover, the Noahide is strictly forbidden to create a new holiday that has religious significance and claim that it is part of his own religion, even if the religion is the observance of the Seven Noahide Laws. For example, it would be forbidden to them to make a holiday celebrating the subsiding of the waters of the Flood of Noah or anything of the like. And, all the more so, it would be forbidden to institute holidays that ascribe religious significance to events outside the purview of the Seven Noahide Laws (just think of all the pagan solar holy or holidays kept by the Christian church in Jesus' name).

Celebrating secular activities or commemorating historical events, such as the Fourth of July, even if they involve a festive meal are permissible.
The nations of the world acknowledge the existence of God and they do not transgress the will of God. Their failing is an inability to be nullified to God and they deny His oneness by thinking that they themselves are separate entities, calling Him the God of gods. Therefore, we find that when they transgress the Seven Noahide Laws, it is only because the spirit of folly enters them and covers the truth, concealing it from them. But from their essential being, they are not able to transgress the will of God. Therefore, even Balaam the wicked prophet who had sexual relations with an animal, his ass, which is a clear transgression of the Seven Noahide Laws, said, "I am not able to transgress the word of God." (Num. 22:18 )
The commandment to be fruitful and multiply was given to Noah, but inasmuch as it was not repeated at Mount Sinai, this commandment is not considered part of the Seven Universal Laws.
However, the Children of Noah have the obligation to make the whole earth a dwelling place for mankind. This is minimally achieved by every couple giving birth to a male and female child who are in turn capable of reproduction. Moreover, the couple that bears more children are credited with bringing more spiritual goodness into the world, assuming that these children are reared in an environment of morality by fulfilling the Seven Universal Laws.

By observing the Seven Universal Laws, mankind is given the means by which it can perfect itself.

The individual, through these laws, has the power to refine his essential being, and can reach higher and higher without limit. For it is written, "I call heaven and earth to bear witness, that any individual, man or woman, Jew or Gentile, freeman or slave, can have the Holy Spirit bestowed upon him. It all depends on his deeds." (Shaare Tzedek 60a, 60b)

And it is also written, "Ultimately, all is understood: fear God and observe His commandments, for this is the completion of man." (Ecclesiastics 12:13)

The bottom line is that living your life in adherence and obedience to the Laws and Covenant of Noah not only honors God but assures acceptance with Him whereas you are seeing that there are some things which don't which have been taught to us in error as Christians and followers of Jesus.