10-29-2008, 02:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-30-2024, 10:43 PM by Director Michael.)
The majority of Midrash (which is part of the in-depth Oral Tradition teachings passed down by the Talmudic Sages) is not appropriate to be studied by Gentiles, since it is classified along with Talmud as being an in-depth source. Like Talmud, it is alright for Noahides to learn the parts that are relevant to the Noahide Code. But even for that, a Noahide should seek guidance from an observant Jewish Torah scholar who is familiar with the source and with the details of the Noahide Code within Torah law.
From The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, 4th Edition, Part I, chapter 5: "Possibly the first two Torah portions, Bereishit [Genesis] and Noach, are permitted for in-depth study [including Midrash], because they relate to humanity in general. See this page on our web site:
https://asknoah.org/essay/lessons-midrash-noah
This is a recommended book that is based on Midrash about the Torah portions of Bereishit and Noach.
https://asknoah.org/books/let-my-world-survive
Also, if a Gentile is learning an appropriate Torah source and it happens to make brief quotes of Midrash here and there, that is not a problem, because that is not considered to be an in-depth study of the Midrash (compared to going straight to the full source text).
For example, it is appropriate for a Noahide to read the commentary of Rashi on the Hebrew Bible, to gain a correct understanding of the simple meaning of the verses. Occasionally Rashi quotes a sentence of Midrash here and there to clarify a point, and that is not a problem for the Noahide reader.
From The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, 4th Edition, Part I, chapter 5: "Possibly the first two Torah portions, Bereishit [Genesis] and Noach, are permitted for in-depth study [including Midrash], because they relate to humanity in general. See this page on our web site:
https://asknoah.org/essay/lessons-midrash-noah
This is a recommended book that is based on Midrash about the Torah portions of Bereishit and Noach.
https://asknoah.org/books/let-my-world-survive
Also, if a Gentile is learning an appropriate Torah source and it happens to make brief quotes of Midrash here and there, that is not a problem, because that is not considered to be an in-depth study of the Midrash (compared to going straight to the full source text).
For example, it is appropriate for a Noahide to read the commentary of Rashi on the Hebrew Bible, to gain a correct understanding of the simple meaning of the verses. Occasionally Rashi quotes a sentence of Midrash here and there to clarify a point, and that is not a problem for the Noahide reader.