09-18-2017, 01:48 AM
(05-11-2008, 05:48 PM)Director Michael Wrote:PlasticMan Wrote:Hi Director Michael. In another thread you said "A Noahide can draw inspiration and insight from Jewish commandments which are not incumbent on non-Jews." With that in mind, isn't it ok to affix a Mezuzah if:
a) a Noahide understands that he/she is not obligated to do so;
b) treats it in the proper manner.
No, since this violates all of the general principles above from Rambam. Likewise we have the ruling to this effect, specifically regarding mezuzah, by Rema (Rabbi Moshe Isserles), the famous Ashkenazi rabbinical authority, in his gloss on the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewsh Law), section Yoreh Deah, vol. 3, chapter 291, law 2.
It is known that Gemara (Talmud) and Halachic (Torah Law) authorities used an over-all term for all Gentiles (non-Jews) as AKUM (acronym of "Ovdei Kochavim Umazalos," I.E. "Idol-worshipers").
Examples: Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 124:6: "Any 'Akum' that does not worship idols..." [in regard to laws of wine touched by a non-Jew] - it is obvious that a Gentile here is called "Akum" as a general name, and not because he is indeed an idol worshiper.
Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 2:1: "The slaughter by an 'Akum' that does not worship idols..."
Therefore wherever "Akum" is mentioned in Talmud and Halachic literature, it means every Gentile (non-Jew) (unless explicitly said otherwise!)
Radvaz (gloss on Rambam, Laws of Kings 10:10 - in regard to observant Bnei Noach (not idol worshipers!) clearly writes the BN should not put on tefillin or affix a mezuza!
Therefore, although the Rema uses the inclusive term "Akum," one cannot understand this as a permission for a non-Jew that is not an idol worshiper to affix a mezuza.
To claim otherwise is playing games with semantics.
A "Noahide" in modern terminology is not an idol worshiper - indeed he is forbidden to do so (Rambam, Laws of Kings, ch. 9); nevertheless, he is not a Ger Toshav either.
According to AskNoah's correct explanation of Rema: Both a Noahide (I.E. a Righteous Gentile) and a Gentile idol-worshiper may not affix a mezuza to his doorpost.