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QUESTION #18(a) : Do Noahides celebrate Easter, Christmas, 4th of July, etc.? I am searching. There are not many
books that can answer my questions.
> K.
ANSWER : An answer to your question about non-Torah holiday celebrations by Noahides can be found in the
chapter on "The Seven Laws of the Children of Noah," in the book The Path of the Righteous Gentile.
To read this chapter on-line, CLICK_HERE.
The relevant text is copied below, with a few inserted comments in brackets and italics.
From The Path of the Righteous Gentile:
... 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 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 [or myths] outside the purview of the Seven Noahide Commandments
[for example, Easter or the popular holiday
on Dec. 25].
Celebrating secular activities and commemorating historical
events, even if they involve a festive meal, are permissible [for example, the Independence Day of your own country, such as July 4th in the U.S.].
[It is also permissible for Noahides
to participate in days which are set aside by their nation for remembering to praise and give thanks to the One
True G-d, such as Thanksgiving and the National Day of Prayer in the U.S.]
For our MP3 audio clip on celebration of secular
and Jewish holidays, CLICK HERE.
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QUESTION #18(b) :
I was wondering if there are any Jewish holidays that are
"off limits" to Noahides, or are we able to celebrate them all?
>J.
I read on the internet that Noahides can celebrate Passover,
not in the Jewish way, but with some changes. Is this true? And if it is, how can I celebrate it?
> M. C.
ANSWER :
From the above-quoted chapter on "The Seven Laws of the
Children of Noah," in the book The Path
of the Righteous Gentile [Ask Noah comments
inserted in brackets]:
... Shavuot [i.e. the day of the "10 Commandments"
at Mt. Sinai], celebrating the Giving of the Torah, [is relevant to Noahides] since the Children of Noah also received
their commandments at the same time. Or Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Day of Judgment, since all mankind
is judged by G-d on that day, so it should therefore be important to the Noahide as well as the Israelite. Rosh
Hashanah is also the day that Adam, the First Man, was created by G-d, and all mankind is descended from Adam [and
Hava (Eve)] just as it is from Noah [and his wife Naamah] ... however, the Noahide ... may not "rest"
in the manner of the Jews [i.e. refrain from
normal weekday activities in the traditional Torah-prescribed manner of a formal religious observance] .
In general, observant Noahides can (but are not required to)
commemorate these Jewish festivals that in some way relate to them and their spiritual mission. But you should
be aware that these days are not to be commemorated by Noahides in the same way that they are commanded to be fully
observed by Jews. For instance, a Noahide should not refrain from normal activities on the Jewish Holy Days or
Sabbath, and should not perform those Jewish commandments that are religious only and have no practical benefit
for Noahides (for example, waiving the four species of plants during the Festival of Sukkot).
The Jewish holiday which has the least relevance to Noahides
is Purim. Also Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah and Yom Kippur have little relevance to Noahides, other than as reminders
of constantly-relevant general Torah principles.
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QUESTION #18(c) : Is it OK for a Noahide to fast on Tisha B'Av? [The 9th of the Hebrew month of Menachem Av, when Jews observe total fasting for about 24 hours and
40 minutes, as part of their traditional mourning on this anniversary of the destruction of both the first and
the second Holy Temples in Jerusalem.]
> J.
ANSWER :
It would seem that if a Noahide would make a full observance
of all the Jewish precepts of Tisha B'Av, he would be making a religiously-observed memorial day for himself,
which is like innovating a religious observance, which is forbidden (see the first question and answer above).
Rabbi Moshe Weiner, author of Sefer Sheva Mitzvot
HaShem, says that the only point upon which
an individual Noahide could justify fasting is that he is mourning the temporary (but far too long) destruction
of the Holy Temple and the exile of the Divine Presence. Since this is a permitted activity, it depends on his
intention.
However, in this final generation of spiritual exile (which
will please G-d be the first generation of the Redemption), people are not nearly as physically strong as they
used to be. Therefore it is recommended that fasting should be minimized, if done at all, for those who are not
obligated. Certainly a Noahide who has a medical problem should not fast if there is any health risk involved,
or he should consult with his doctor as to what he can safely do.
Furthermore, the continuous obligation of Noahides is "yishuv olom," improving the
condition of the world, and one who is weakened by fasting might fall short in what he could have accomplished
that day for yishuv olom, G-d forbid. Also, if fasting causes one to become irritable, short-tempered
or prideful, G-d forbid, there could be an actual bad effect from the fasting, which is the opposite of what needs
to be accomplished. In our days it is very acceptable to substitute non-obligatory fasting with donations to proper
charities (the value of at least one normal meal is suggested). Recommended charities are those which are consistent
with Torah-true principles and yishuv olom. Also, the main practical intention is not for fasting, but for repentance.
Certainly a Noahide is encouraged to pray
that the Third Holy Temple shall be established by Moshiach ben David very speedily in our days. And it very appropriate
for a Noahide to read the Book of Lamentations on the night and/or day of Tisha B'Av.
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