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QUESTION #25 : Are Noahites permitted to observe the Jewish mitzvot (commandments) regarding
the Jewish Shabbath and Holy Days, tallit and mezuzah? If yes, which mitzvot are totally forbidden
to them (I would guess the Passover lamb, for example)?
ANSWER : The book "The Path of the Righteous Gentile" gives the following instructions on this
subject (p. 41-42), which are quoted here. The parts in square brackets [ ] are insertions for additional clarifiction:
"Although the Children of Noah are commanded only concerning
the Seven Universal Commandments, they are permitted to observe [m]any of the 613 [Jewish] Commandments of the
Torah for the sake of receiving [additional obvious benefits for themselves, for their families and associates,
and for their sociey.] ... The [main] exceptions to this are:
a. Observing [a] Sabbath in the manner of the Jews ("resting" [i.e. refraining] from the [39 categories
of] actions that were needed for the building of the Tabernacle [following] the Exodus from Egypt).
b. Observing Jewish Holy Days [the biblical festival days of Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur or Sukkot]
in the manner [commanded] of the Jews ("resting" [i.e. refraining from certain actions] in a similar
manner to the [Jewish] Sabbath).
c. Studying those parts [and branches] of the Torah [specifically parts of the Oral Torah] that do not apply to
[or ehance] the Noahides' service of [and belief in] G-d.
(Note: A prime purpose of the Seven Universal Laws is to teach the Children of Noah about the Oneness of G-d, and
therefore those parts of Torah that pertain to this knowledge [including many Chassidic teachings] are permissible
for him to study. This includes the entirety of the twenty-four books of the Hebrew Scriptures. Also, the study
of any part of the Torah that brings one to greater knowledge concerning the performance of the Seven Noahide Commandments
is permissible. But Talmudic [study], or [in-depth] Halakhic [i.e. Torah law] study of subjects that pertain exclusively to the Jew's service of G-d is forbidden
[for Noahides].)
[In Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings, Chap. 10, Maimonides (the "Rambam") states that a Gentile is in general forbidden to be "osek
ba'Torah" - which means to delve and strive into Torah
learning in the manner that a Jew is commanded. A Gentile is however allowed to be "osek
ba'Torah" in matters which relate to the Seven Noahide
Commandments, but he is not commanded to do so.
Therefore it is very important to have competent Rabbinic
guidance in choosing what to study, if one goes beyond the permissible text of the 24 Books of the Hebrew Bible
and their basic traditional commentaries/explanations.]
d. Writing a Torah scroll (the Five Books of
Moses) or receiving an aliyah to the Torah
(reading a portion of the Torah [scroll] at a public gathering).
e. Making, writing, or wearing tefillin, the phylacteries worn [by a Jewish man on the head and arm] during
[week-day] prayer that contain [parchments with] portions of the Torah.
f. Writing or affixing a mezuzah, the parchment containing portions of the Torah, to one's doorposts
or gateposts."
Note that in this list the authors did not
include eating meat from the sacrificial Passover kid (lamb or goat) or from any of the other types of sacrifices
for which some parts where eaten. This was probably omitted because it is not possible for Jews to observe this
category of divine commandmets now, due to the temporary foreign occupation of the Temple Mount. (During the first
year after the Temple Mount was liberated by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, this was a matter of practical
concern.)
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In summary:
Gentiles should first and foremost understand and follow their Seven Noahide Commandments which G-d requires of
them, for which the reward granted to the Torah faithful is a place in the World to Come. With this committment,
a Gentile should start keeping and learning about the Seven Noahide Commandments in the proper way, as they are
explained within the Torah law received by Moses at Mt. Sinai. Under the guidance of an Orthodox Rabbi or mentor,
this can certainly include the study of appropriate Chassidic discourses and teachings. A good additional observance
to begin following is to give properly directed charity.
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