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Approaching study of Written and Oral Torah
#20
(09-06-2017, 02:50 AM)intruder13 Wrote: Is reading too much Torah theft even when it relates to seven laws?  I read that it was.

First of all, the prohibition is not related to how much (the quantity) of Torah reading that a Gentile does. Instead, it is related to how deeply the Gentile delves into his Torah study, if the subject is not related to something that's connected with the Noahide Code.

The Sages of the Talmud did not say that the transgression (which happens if a Gentile studies deeply into an irrelevant part of Torah that has no practical benefit for him) involved theft. They said that it resembles either theft, or adultery.

(09-06-2017, 02:50 AM)intruder13 Wrote: The problem is, the prohibition against this appears to be equivocal and of uncertain interpretation.  I therefore feel condemned to reading any of it and wonder if I should be here (in Vayikra or Shulchan Aruch).

Vayikra (Leviticus) and any other part of the Hebrew Bible is permitted for a Noahide to read. The Hebrew Bible can be read with the classic "peshat" (straightforward) explanations - for example, those by Rashi, Sforno and Ibn Ezra.
Shulchan Aruch (the Code of Jewish Law - the main text) is permitted for a Noahide to read in parts that relate to observance of the Noahide Code. Also permitted are the parts that relate to observance of the logical Jewish commandments that can be observed by Noahides as righteous behaviors, because it is not an in-depth (Talmudic-level) part of the Oral Torah. This is explained in this section of the Forum, and in the chapter on "Torah Study for Gentiles" in the book The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner (published by Ask Noah).

(09-06-2017, 02:50 AM)intruder13 Wrote: In some cases, it is too much to read in Aramaic or Hebrew and in others just to read Jewish ceremonial law even in English in Talmud, Shulcan Aruch and Mishneh Torah?

For Noahides, who fulfill the requirement of belief in the One True G-d and in the Torah of Moses (Written Torah and Oral Torah), reading in English (or another well understood language) is OK, for both Shulchan Aruch and Mishneh Torah, because they are both on the second level of Torah, called "mishnah" (straightforward statements of the Torah Law).
For the Talmud, which is the 3rd level of Torah that is in-depth, it is not OK unless it is a part related to the Noahide Code, and you are getting guidance in your study from a reliable and observant Torah scholar.

I went to type 30-35+ wpm in Hebrew and thought I was doing it respect by reading with at least a little comprehension (I thought).
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Studying Written or Oral Torah in the original Hebrew or Aramaic is not recommended for Gentiles. The good-quality translations from Orthodox Jewish publishing companies are more appropriate to study, because the translations are made by Jewish Torah scholars who have studied and learned the depth of the meaning of the original text, so they word their translations to reflect the actual intended meaning.

(09-06-2017, 02:50 AM)intruder13 Wrote: What will become of me if I continue to do so?  Hopefully nothing bad.  It seemed maybe G-d was angry at me with several signs of heaven although I thought to myself, there was enough material in N.T. to transgress this (which permit reading anything), before switched theology.

Before you switched theology, you were anyway far off-track, and "two wrongs don't make a right." But I also question whether the official clergy of the sect you were in would really say that it's OK within their doctrine for their followers to read "anything."

Now that you have "come under the wings of G-d's Divine Presence" as a faithful Noahide, the channels of eternal blessings are opened up for you. But along with that, G-d is also carefully watching you always.

(09-06-2017, 02:50 AM)intruder13 Wrote: Am I under any obligation to "built a fence around the Torah" (Pirkei Avot) even regarding the seven laws?

I'm sure you already do that, probably more than you realize.
It is an intellectual obligation to do so, to help ensure that you will not be likely to accidentally or unknowingly transgress any of the 7 Noahide Commandments. This is especially the case for any of the 7 Laws that a person may be tempted to transgress, by his nature.
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Messages In This Thread
RE: Approaching study of Written and Oral Torah - by Joachim ben Noach - 10-28-2008, 11:38 PM
Talmud study for noahides - by newman - 10-01-2008, 10:22 AM
RE: Talmud study for noahides - by newman - 10-06-2008, 10:15 AM
Study of Judaic religious texts? - by NoahideBrah - 03-01-2012, 10:43 AM
Reading beyond the seven laws - by intruder13 - 09-06-2017, 02:50 AM
RE: Approaching study of Written and Oral Torah - by Director Michael - 09-07-2017, 05:18 PM

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