01-17-2016, 12:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-24-2021, 01:56 PM by Director Michael.)
(12-27-2015, 01:12 AM)Hrvatski Noahid Wrote: (1) From the Divine Code, Part I, Chapter 5 ("Torah Study for Gentiles"):
"For other Torah study that is permitted for Gentiles but is not related to the observance of an obligatory precept, there is no great spiritual reward. Instead, there is the reward of the benefit it provides for him, like the advantages he can derive from the Jewish precepts that are permissible for him, which may be performed by Gentiles only for the sake of the practical benefit that will result."
Can we liken secular learning to this level of Torah learning by a Gentile? Secular learning is allowed for Gentiles. It does not bring spiritual reward. But it has practical benefits.
That is a good question. The answer is that this lower level of permitted Torah-learning for a Gentile is not EQUAL to secular learning, G-d forbid. Even that level of Torah-learning has a spiritual advantage over secular learning, because his mind is engaged in thinking about G-d, or about matters that are connected with G-dly wisdom.
Rabbi Weiner wrote that for the lower level of Torah-learning, for a Gentile there is no GREAT spiritual reward. This means that the spiritual reward it does bring (which is the spiritual, moral, or personality enhancement he gains) is not on the level of the great reward for the higher level of Torah-learning, about how to observe an obligatory precept within the 7 Noahide Commandments.
But on the other hand, if the person is learning secular material to gain knowledge that he needs for his job or to prepare for a career (which he will surely conduct in accordance with the principles of the Noahide Code), then he is actively engaged in fulfilling his mission in the world of "yishuv olom" - contributing to making a "settled" and better world.
(12-27-2015, 01:12 AM)Hrvatski Noahid Wrote: (2) Rabbi Weiner writes there:
"Rather, a Gentile is permitted to learn from books in a language he understands, on topics that are written in a concise and clear way."
To understand any language a Gentile needs to learn it. If a Gentile learns a language for the sake of learning the 7 commandments in that language, does he get a spiritual reward from G-d?
Not for learning the language.