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The Talmud is very complicated, not every statement is a law, sometimes it is a commentary or the opinion of a certain Rabbi, sometimes a stipulation or refutation, however the quotes below should give you a good idea about Talmudic reasoning on certain issues.
According to the Talmud in the book of Sanhedrin 59a, in the
opinion of Rabbi Johanan, a non-Jew who learns the Torah should be killed,
unless they are converting to Judaism or are learning the special laws which
pertain to the Ger Toshab (The Noahide Laws). Footnote 3 to the passage
is very forward as to the reason for this: “it is suggested that R. Johanan
feared the knowledge of Gentiles in matters of Jurisprudence, as they would use
it against the Jews in their opponents’ courts.” In Abodah Zarah 26a –
26b it is the concurrent opinion of both Rabbi Johanan and Rabbi Abbahu that
“informers and apostates” also known as “mosers” maybe thrown into a pit to
die; this is unlike non-Jews who can only be abandoned in a pit to die, but not
thrown in. The Jewish Encyclopedia further details that one who teaches the
Talmud to a Non-Jew should be killed (which they brush of as an idiom). It is
little wonder why Jews would fear non-Jews gaining an understanding of their
laws, especially since Jewish Noahide Law gives non-Jews secondary legal status
and prohibits them from practicing their own religion in pain of death.
NON-JEWS WHO LEARN THE TORAH SHOULD BE KILLED UNLESS THEY ARE CONVERTING OR HAVE ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF A GER
TOSHAV (NOAHIDE)
R. Johanan said: A heathen who studies the Torah
deserves death, for it is written, Moses commanded us a law for an
inheritance; it is our inheritance, not theirs.[3] Then why is this
not included in the Noachian laws? — On the reading morasha [an inheritance] he
steals it; on the reading me’orasah [betrothed], he is guilty as one who
violates a betrothed maiden, who is stoned. An objection is raised: R.
Meir used to say. Whence do we know that even a heathen who studies the Torah
is as a High Priest? From the verse, [Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and
my judgments:] which, if man do, he shall live in them. Priests, Levites,
and Israelites are not mentioned, but men: hence thou mayest learn that even a
heathen who studies the Torah is as a High Priest! — That refers to their own
seven laws.[7] - 1962
Soncino Bablonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 59a
Footnote 3: This seems a very strong expression.
In the J. E. (loc. cit.) it is suggested that R.Johanan feared the knowledge
of Gentiles in matters of Jurisprudence, as they would use it against the Jews
in their opponents’ courts…
Footnote 7: It is meritorious for them to study these;
but not laws which do not pertain to them.
INFORMERS AND APOSTATES MAY BE THROWN INTO A PIT TO DIE (OTHERS CAN ONLY BE ABANDONED IN A PIT, BUT NOT THROWN IN)
R. Joseph further had in mind to say, in regard to what
has been taught that in the case of idolaters and shepherds of small
cattle one is not obliged to bring them up [from a pit] though one
must not cast them in it — that for payment one is obliged to bring them
up on account of ill feeling. Abaye, however, said to him: He could offer
such excuses as, ‘I have to run to my boy who is standing on the roof’, or, ‘I
have to keep an appointment at the court.’ R. Abbahu recited to R.
Johanan: ‘Idolaters and [Jewish] shepherds of small cattle need not be brought
up though they must not be cast in, but minim, informers, and
apostates may be cast in, and need not be brought up.’ - 1962 Soncino
Babylonian Talmud, Abodah Zarah, 26a – 26b
WHOEVER TEACHES A NON-JEW THE LAWS OF JEWS SHOULD BE
“KILLED” (FROM THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA)
Inasmuch as the Jews had their own distinct jurisdiction, it
would have been unwise to reveal their laws to the Gentiles, for such knowledge
might have operated against the Jews in their opponents’ courts. Hence the
Talmud prohibited the teaching to a Gentile of the Torah, “the inheritance of
the congregation of Jacob” (Deut. xxxiii. 4). R. Johanan says of one so
teaching: “Such a person deserves death” (an idiom used to express
indignation). ‘It is like placing an obstacle before the blind” (Sanh. 59a;
Hag. 13a). And yet if a Gentile study the Law for the purpose of observing the
moral laws of Noah, R. Meir says he is as good as a high priest, and quotes:
“Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments, which if a man do, he
shall live in them” (Lev. xviii. 5). The text does not specify an Israelite or
a Levite or a priest, but simply “a man “ -even a Gentile (‘Ab. Zarah 26a).
- GENTILE,
1906 Jewish Encyclopedia
MOSERS (INFORMERS) SHOULD BE KILLED
On account of the fact that his deeds frequently caused
mischief and even entailed death and destruction, the sages of the Talmud
compared the “moser” to a serpent…. According to Talmudic law, the delator
was punished with death; and although in general the jurisdiction of the Jewish
courts in criminal cases ceased with the destruction of the Jewish
commonwealth, in the case of informers the penalty remained in force, those
convicted being punished the more severely because they deliberately increased
the danger which constantly threatened the people. – MOSER, 1906
Jewish Encyclopedia
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