Torah Basics

[Director Michael]

If you say that something (e.g. don't blaspheme G-d) is an obligatory commandment *from G-d*, then the absolute foundation of accepting that injunction *as a commandment* (upon which basis the person would merit to receive Divine reward) is that the person must believe there is G-d, and that this G-d issued that commandment, along with a Divine promise of reward and punishment for the individual. Since that belief in G-d is an absolute foundation of the commandment, is it therefore part of the commandment (the positive part), and as such that part also has the status of a commandment. Likewise for a belief in G-d to be a true belief, one must know the basics of Who it is that he is believing in. If a person doesn't at least in some minimal way love and fear G-d (at least when he thinks about it), it is clear that he doesn't know Who G-d is, and therefore his belief is not a true belief, and his acceptance of the commandment is not a true acceptance, and his observance is not a true observance (of the actual commandment).

On the other hand, for Gentiles, to pray or not pray is not a foundational requirement for the observance in truth any of the Seven Noahide Commandments. One can be properly observing the Noahide Commandments at any given time without engaging in prayer. Therefore, for Gentiles, prayer itself does not have the status of a Divine commandment. But it follows logically - for a Gentile who has already accepted the foundation of these commandments (i.e., belief in G-d and knowledge of Him) - that in certain situations (which might or might not arise), he will be logically obliged to choose to pray.