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06-02-2007, 02:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-19-2007, 12:33 AM by Director Michael.)
Michael
Is it forbidden or allowed that a Noahide pray a Jewish prayer, like mincha or the morning prayer?
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06-03-2007, 06:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-01-2019, 09:49 AM by Director Michael.)
We have received many questions on this subject!
After the fact, if a Noahide has prayed one of the Jewish daily prayer services, we can say "no harm done." However for observant Noahides who want to do the right thing and in a way that will be proper in the eyes of G-d, it should be pointed out that there are parts of the liturgical Jewish prayers that are only appropriate for Jews.
1) First of all, the prayers of Noahides should be based on, and consistent with, human intellect. This means that they should pray only in a language in which they understand all the words they are saying. Many of the points below also follow from this basic principle.
2) The text of the Siddur (the traditional Orthodox Jewish prayer book, which comes in several versions that have only slight variations) may be used as an optional general guide for Noahides. But all Noahides should know and have complete faith that they can freely change, reduce, or add prayers to G-d in their own spontaneous words, from the feelings of their own heart and the understanding of their own intellect. There is no obligation for a Noahide to say any specifically worded prayers in any specific order.
3) The ideal book for prayer by Noahides (for someone who wants to use a book regularly or from time to time), is the Book of Psalms (Tehillim), in translation from a reliable Orthodox Jewish publishing company (see the web page of Recommended Books on AskNoah.org). A Noahide can pick and choose whatever chapters of Psalms he or she would like to use as prayers or to recite on any day.
4) There is no limitation of "times for prayers" for Noahides, whether in the morning, afternoon or night time. The concept of an obligation to recite "shacharit," (a morning prayer service) "mincha" (an afternoon prayer service) and "ma’ariv" (a evening prayer service) only applies to Jews, as their required service of "davenen," which in Aramaic means "d'avahun" - "from the fathers" (of the Jewish people) - Abraham, Isaac and Jacov, who instituted these three daily services specifically for the Jewish people.
5) If a Noahide is using a Jewish prayer book (Siddur), he or she should skip anything that logically does not apply to Noahides. For example, Noahides should skip any prayers like "Gather us from among the nations ..." If they want they can substitute something like "Please gather the Jewish people from among the nations..." Noahides should also skip over prayers like "You are the L-rd our G-d and the G-d of our fathers before whom our ancestors burned the offering of incense," referring to the Jewish service in the Tabernacle of Moses and later in the Holy Temple. If they want they can substitute something like, "You are our G-d before whom the Jews burned the offering of incense in the Holy Temple."
The paragraph (blessing) in the Siddur which directly precedes the Sh'ma prayer (morning or evening), only applies to Jews, so it seems clear that Noahides should skip that paragraph.
6) With the above in mind, if a Noahide decides to use a Siddur, he or she can certainly say the chapters and verses from the Psalms, and the verses that are from the Tanach (the 24 Books of the Hebrew Bible, keeping in mind who the verses are being addressed to.)
The Siddur contains some excerpts from the Mishna, and these don't have to be skipped over by a Noahide (but keep in mind that they are addressed to the Jewish people). The excerpts from the Gemara (the Talmud’s exposition on the Mishna) should be skipped.
7) The concept of a *required* liturgical text for making a "brucha," i.e. formally blessing G-d, really only applies to Jews. The number of blessings within the daily prayer services of the Orthodox Jewish prayer book (the "Siddur") is based on the obligation of a Jewish man to say at least 100 of these liturgical blessings every day.
Therefore a Noahide can skip the "Morning Blessings" in the Siddur. Some of these blessings anyway should definitely not be said by Noahides, such as the Jewish liturgical blessings for the study of Torah.
If a Noahide participates in a Jewish commandment which is not forbidden to them (for example, if one listened to a reading of the Book of Esther on Purim, or lit candles in honor of Hanukkah), he or she should not say the associated Jewish liturgical blessing for performing a commanded act, because it would be a false statement (since Noahides are not commanded to observe those things).
8) The set 19 blessings of the Amidah (the special "silent prayer," also called the "Shemona Esrei") which is the main part of each of the 3 daily Jewish services, was instituted by the Sages of the Great Assembly (acting on the instructions of the Biblical prophets) as the substitute for the required Jewish offerings in the Holy Temple, for weekdays, the Jewish Sabbath and the Jewish festivals. Therefore it does not relate to Noahides. Ask Noah presented this question to Rabbi Immanuel Schochet, who responded that for this reason, Noahides should not pray any of the liturgical Jewish Amidah prayers. He also provided a sample "Noahide Amidah" prayer, which is appropriate for Noahides to say on a daily basis if they wish, with any appropriate changes they wish to make:
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A Noahide Amidah (Copyright '09 by Ask Noah International)
Blessed are You, G-d, the Supreme Being Who bestows abundant kindness.
Please endow us graciously with wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
Please accept our repentance, and forgive us for our errors and sins.
Grant complete healing for all our wounds and ailments.
Bestow upon us all the needs for our sustenance from Your bounty.
Hasten the day of which it is said, "G-d will be King over the entire earth; in that day G-d shall be One and His Name One" [1]; "For then I will turn the peoples to pure language, so that all will call upon the Name of G-d to serve Him with one purpose," [2] and "They will not harm or destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with knowledge of G-d as water covering the sea bed." [3]
Hear our voice, G-d, our merciful Father, have compassion upon us and accept our prayers in mercy and favor. Blessed are You, G-d, Who hears prayer.
[1] Zechariah 14:9
[2] Zephaniah 3:9
[3] Isaiah 11:9
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06-11-2007, 07:43 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-19-2007, 12:34 AM by Director Michael.)
Shalom
I would like to learn about prayers common between Jews and Noahides, the ones that would help a person uplift his/ her spirit, suppose a mother would like to have a better relationship with her kids, act more leniently toward her kids. Are there prayers directed to issues like this, or a prayer in general to help one confront his/her deficiencies in behavior as a Noahide? Thank you Rabbi.
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06-12-2007, 03:07 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-30-2018, 09:43 PM by Director Michael.)
oceanoah Wrote:Shalom
I would like to learn about prayers common between Jews and Noahides...
Every single person is a unique individual, and as a Noahide you can express your own unique prayers to G-d in your own words. But for "prayers in common," you can turn to a reliable translation of the Book of Psalms, like the volumes published by Artscroll or Kehot for example. If you read through the entire Book of Psalms, you'll find the ones that express whatever need or emotion you want to express to G-d.
oceanoah Wrote:... the ones that would help a person uplift his/her spirit...
For example:
Psalms 86 or 130 (in the sense of dedicating yourself to G-d)
Psalms 100, 145 or 150 (in the sense of inspiring thankful joy)
oceanoah Wrote:... suppose a mother would like to have a better relationship with her kids, act more leniently toward her kids."
It's a beautiful custom, and it can have a good effect, to say "the Psalm" for each of your children every day, or as close to every day as possible. A person's Psalm is the chapter that's the age he will be on the next birthday. So if you have a four year-old child, his Psalm is Chapter 5. The same applies for yourself.
oceanoah Wrote:"... a prayer in general to help one confront his/her deficiencies in behavior as a Noahide.
The "Prayer for the Penitent" - Psalm 51.
These are just a few examples from all of the 150 Psalms. For more recommendations, see
https://asknoah.org/faq/prayers-of-thanks-or-need
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BS"D
Director Michael Wrote:2) The text of the Siddur (the traditional Orthodox Jewish prayer book, which comes in several versions that have only slight variations) may be used as an optional general guide for Noahides. But all Noahides should know and have complete faith that they can freely change, reduce, or add prayers to G-d in their own spontaneous words, from the feelings of their own heart and the understanding of their own intellect. There is no obligation for a Noahide to say any specifically worded prayers in any specific order.
In the Siddur that I use as a guide, there are instructions to sit or stand at different parts. Since it isn't an obligation for a Noahide to pray, I understand that this doesn't apply to Noahides either. However, I'm curious as to why Jews stand for certain prayers and sit for others.
Thanks,
Donny
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06-25-2007, 06:21 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-26-2007, 04:40 PM by Director Michael.)
Each prayer in the traditional Jewish liturgy has its reason for sitting or standing. For example, one of the prayers is said standing as it was revealed from Heaven to its authors the Men of the Great Assembly (the Sanhedrin from the time of the last Biblical prophets through the reign of Alexander the Great); thus we stand to remind us of Whom we speak - its Divine authorship. The Amida prayer is said standing as it is supplications before the King in front of whom we stand with reverence. When the prayers of "And David blessed ..." and "You made a Covenant with him [Abraham] ..." were recited by King David and Nehemiah, respectively, their audiences were standing, so we also stand. The Song at the Red Sea is said standing because Moses and the Jews recited it standing after crossing the sea. These are some examples.
Rabbi Yitz
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07-26-2007, 01:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-26-2007, 04:42 PM by Director Michael.)
Director Michael Wrote:8) The set 19 blessings of the Amidah (the special "silent prayer," also called the "Shemona Esrei") which is the main part of each of the 3 daily Jewish services, was instituted by the Sages of the Great Assembly (acting on the instructions of the Biblical prophets) as the substitute for the required Jewish offerings in the Holy Temple, for weekdays, the Jewish Sabbath and the Jewish festivals. Therefore it does not relate to Noahides. Ask Noah presented this question to Rabbi Immanuel Schochet, who responded that for this reason, Noahides should not pray any of the liturgical Jewish Amidah prayers. He also provided a sample "Noahide Amidah" prayer, which is appropriate for Noahides to say on a daily basis if they wish, with any appropriate changes they wish to make:
Thank you for this general rule. It is easier to make some decisions on my own. I had been saying the Amidah before.
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08-23-2007, 07:18 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-24-2007, 07:56 AM by Director Michael.)
My understanding of the appointed Jewish prayer times, is because they are associated with Temple services and sacrifice. I am also of the understanding that Noahides are obligated (assuming the Temple was functioning) to be involved with sacrifices. Not sure how that is done as a gentile of course. But, it would seem to me if the prayers are in alignment with Temple's services, then the morning, afternoon and evening prayers MAY also apply to the Noahide. Albeit, in a limited form.
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08-24-2007, 08:14 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-24-2007, 08:30 AM by Director Michael.)
There were many different types of sacrificial offerings that were brought in the Holy Temple.
The daily morning and afternoon Jewish prayer services ("Shacharit" and "Mincha", respectively) correspond to only two of these many Temple offerings. These were the two communal burnt offering on behalf of the Jewish people. One was brought as the first offering in the morning, and the other as the last offering in the afternoon. The evening Jewish prayer service ("Ma'ariv") corresponds to the burning of the residuals of the afternoon daily communal offering, which extended into the evening.
Noahides did not have a part in these two daily burnt offerings which were brought on behalf of the Jewish people as a community. Instead, Noahides brought their sacrifices to G-d as burnt offerings of a private individual, on any day and at any time during the daytime which they so desired.
Furthermore the bringing of a sacrificial offering by a Noahide was independent of, and did not take the place of, the Noahide's obligation to pray to G-d in his or her time of need.
If an observant Noahide desires to express his or her acceptance of G-d's Kingship by reciting the "Shema" prayer ("Hear O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One"), it is appropriate (but not required) to do so during the time when Jews are commanded to recite the prayer, in the morning and in the evening.
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08-24-2007, 02:33 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-26-2007, 01:59 PM by Director Michael.)
Thank you that was very helpful. That clears some misunderstanding for me. I knew there were different offerings, but not clear how a gentile might partake in the process.
So my next question is: How did a Noahide approach to be able to give a sacrificial offering? And at what time of day would this have taken place? Also, what would the sacrifice have been for? Sin, thanksgiving.... what? Does a Noahide also participate, albeit in a limited fashion, on Yom Kippur?
Sorry if the question has already been asked. I'm like a dry sponge here, just soaking in information.
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