We saw how the Catholic Church stated that the Noahide Laws are found in the Bible books of Genesis (9:9-12) and Acts (15:28-29) (see here). Others say the Noahide Laws can be found in the Book of Galatians and even the noncanonical book of Jubilees. Yet when we look up these scriptures we find that none of them contain all of the Noahide Laws (the Book of Jubilees' list of Noahide Laws differs from the Talmud's version and only lists six). Further, the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia states the Noahide Laws are not found in the Bible, Professor of Religion John W. Martens says the Noahide Laws are not in Galatians, and Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn says Noahide Laws do not come from the Bible but Jewish tradition. The Noahide Laws do not come from the Bible but come from the Talmud.
The Noahide Laws are not found in the Bible but come from the Talmud - 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia
Although only those laws which are found in the earlier chapters of the Pentateuch, before the record of the revelation at Sinai, should, it would seem, be binding upon all mankind, yet the Rabbis discarded some and, by hermeneutic rules or in accordance with some tradition (see Judah ha-Levi, “Cuzari,” iii. 73), introduced others which are not found there... Thus,the Talmud frequently speaks of “the seven laws of the sons of Noah,” which were regarded as obligatory upon all mankind, in contradistinction to those that were binding upon Israelites only (Tosef., ‘Ab. Zarah, ix. 4; Sanh. 56a et seq.).
Noahide Law not found in the Book of Galatians - Professor of Religion John W. Martens
"James finally speaks on behalf of the “whole assembly” (Acts 15:12) and relates the mission to the Gentiles to a number of prophetic passages from scripture in which God calls the Gentiles to Himself (Acts 15: 16-18). James then states that Gentiles should be welcomed in if they maintain select dictates, which are similar to the Noachide laws (which Paul does not mention in Galatians 1-2) (Acts 15: 19-21) and, after “the apostles and the elders with the consent of the whole church” choose men to accompany Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:22), James sends a letter to this effect to the church in Antioch (Acts 15: 22-29)."
Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn says Noahide Laws do not come from the Bible but Jewish tradition
In 1773, Moses Mendelssohn, a Jewish philosopher and major figure in the Jewish enlightenment, corresponded with Rabbi Yaakov Emden, a respected rabbi and traditionalist based in Altona, Germany. At issue were the implications of a section in Maimonides’ Laws of Kings which states that non-Jews who observe the Noahide laws, which include prohibitions such as murder, incest and theft, only attain a share in the world to come if they do so because God has given those commandments through Moses. This ruling was approved by the noted halachist Joseph Karo (d. 1575). ... Mendelssohn added that the Noahide laws are seemingly not learned by exegesis – there is no clear-cut Biblical reference to them – but only through the Jewish tradition.
Genesis does not delineate the whole ff Noahide Law
12 God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
- Genesis 9:9-12
- Acts does not enumerate all the Noahide Laws
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
- Acts 15:28-29
- The Book of Jubilees contains a different set of Noahide Lawsand there are only 6
"And in the twenty-eighth jubilee [1324-1372 A.M.] Noah began to enjoin upon his sons' sons the ordinances and commandments, and all the judgments that he knew, and he exhorted his sons to observe righteousness, and to cover the shame of their flesh, and to bless their Creator, and honour father and mother, and love their neighbour, and guard their souls from fornication and uncleanness and all iniquity. For owing to these three things came the flood upon the earth ... For whoso sheddeth man's blood, and whoso eateth the blood of any flesh, shall all be destroyed from the earth."
SOURCE: The Book of Jubilees. Chapter 7, verses 20-33. Wesley Center for Applied Theology. Northern Nazarene University. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
We have already discussed how Islam can be considered idolatry under Noahide Law, and even if it is not considered idolatry, Jewish legal scholar Maimonides still said that it was illegal to practice (here). However, on the other side of the coin, there are attempts to bring Islam under the umbrella of Noahide Law. Both Muslim and Jewish scholars have stated that Islam and Noahide Law are compatible and the Noahide Laws are in the Koran... that Islam teaches all of humanity are to follow the Noahide Laws . However these Muslim scholars still state that Christianity is idolatry, a sentiment held by many Jews (here). Since both Muslim Sharia Law and Jewish Noahide Law both command death for idolators, an alliance between them could be dangerous for Christians and other religions like Hinduism and Paganism. Radical Islam could become another arm of the Noahide agenda.
Noahidism is compatible with Islam
Allah is instructing that there is no contention or dispute “between us Muslims and you Jews” because all revelations come from the same source—Allah. Some might say, but the Qur’an says that the Prophet Muhammad was sent to all mankind, to Arabs and non-Arabs, Jews and Christians, and all must follow him.[10] To that the Qur’an tells us that every prophet came with a general message and a specific message. The general message is meant for all mankind, this is the Deen (universal law) of Islam. Deen is comparable to the universal Noahide laws. In this regard there is no distinction between the prophets. ... There is ample room in Islam to accept Jews, Christians, and Noahides fully as they are, encouraging them to cleave to their faiths and prophets.
I told him that the Torah starts with our common humanity in the story of Adam, where we are told that all of humanity is created in the image of God. Judaism sees itself as having a role to play in the story of humanity, but not that everyone should be Jewish. Our role is to awaken certain values and a connection from God to humanity, which we see for example in the seven Noahide laws. We see in Islam a fulfillment of that vision.
Egyptian Sheikh says Muslims already keep the Noahide Laws, says Christians are idolatrous
Determined to pursue peace with the Jewish people, Egyptian Muslim sheikh, Dr. Omer Salem, just completed a whirlwind tour of Israel. ... At his speech at the Jewish Agency, Salem stated that Islam has no theological conflict with Judaism. He notes that Islam does have a long standing dispute with Christianity over two topics. One – the trinity is viewed by believing Muslims as idolatrous. Two - Christians wish to proselytize to Muslims. Judaism is considered strictly monotheistic, and does not call for proselytizing any more than spreading the Seven Noahide Laws, which Muslims already keep.
Nevertheless, there is a minority view which believes that non-Jews can still receive prophecy. It is this position that led Natanel al-Fayyumi, a 12th-century Yemenite rabbi, to suggest that God established an eternal covenant with Moses and the Children of Israel, but that He also established a covenant with Muhammad and the Muslims. ... Additionally, al-Fayyumi finds it critically important to reiterate the Torah's warning that if a prophet comes to change the laws of the Torah, he is not to be seen as a prophet for the Jewish people. Seeing that many of the laws and ideas in Islam are contrary to those of Judaism, and that the language of the Quran is different to that of the Torah, al-Fayyumi holds that a Jew must remain a Jew. However, the fact that the Seven Laws of Noah (a moral code passed down to Noah from God for non-Jews) are stated in the Quran, may suggest that Islam is a Noahide religion for non-Jews.
Noahidst Jew says Islam taught all humanity should follow the Noahide Code
"Individuals within the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) are taught that all of humanity should follow the Noahide Code, a set of imperatives given by G-d as a binding set of laws for the Children of Noah and which serves as the foundational premise of their individual faiths."
Arab villages in Israel and the Golan Heights have signed declarations of the Noahide Laws and Chabad-Lubavitch, the organization behind the US recognizing the Noahide Laws (here) introduced the King of Morocco to the Noahide Laws.
Mayor of Arab village publically accepts the Noahide Laws
In Israel, there was a stir when Salim Jaber, the mayor of the Arab village of Abu Gosh near Jerusalem, made a public declaration accepting to observe the seven Noachide laws. So we are out there in various forms.
Assad's cousin signs declaration of the Noahide Laws
Assad’s Cousin Approves Noahide Laws.
Imam Assam Al-Khatib, leader of the Al-Ajjar Mosque in the Golan Heights, and a relative of Syria’s Prime Minister Bashir Al-Assad,is among the many Arab leaders in Israel who signed a declaration calling on all Non-Jews to follow the Seven Noahide Laws as the path to Peace in Israel
Chabad introduces the King of Morocco to Noahide Law
As Chabad emissary Israel Goldberg soon learned, the visitor was not the run-of-the-mill tourist, but Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco. ... According to Goldberg, the two discussed the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Seven Noahide Laws laid out in the Bible, and the importance of charity in Judaism.
Australian Governor General Michael Jeffery has praised Noahid Law, Australian Senator Eric Abetz says the Noahide Laws have "universal application", the Australian government has published opinions that Christianity and Islam are Noahide religions [even though they can both be considered "idolatry (here & here)], and one Eliana Freydel Miller told Parliament they should adopt the Noahide Laws. Australia is well on its way in recognizing the Noahide Laws.
Australian Governor General Michael Jeffery praises Noahide Law
Other world leaders have joined the call for further observance and knowledge of these laws. For example, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Union wrote (in July, 2014) that he seeks greater “dissemination of the universal values known as the Noahide Laws,” and Major General Michael Jeffery, Governor General of Australia, lamenting family breakdowns and drug and alcohol abuse in modern society in a 2008 letter, wrote that he believed that observing the fundamental values of the Noahide Laws can be an antidote to such ills of society.
Australian senator says Noahide Laws have "universal application"
Senator Eric Abetz delivered the following address on the occasion of the launch of Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen’s new book, The Theory and Practice of Universal Ethics: The Noahide Laws, on November 16, 2015, at the Jewish Russian Community Centre, Balaclava, Victoria. ... Now, out of this diversity Rabbi Dr Cowen has extracted ethics that have a very wide or universal application. Over 75 per cent of the world’s population have adopted religions that reach back to the Noahide laws, which provides a commonality among them.
Fundamental elements of religious freedom are the legal entitlement to beliefs, responsibilities and behaviours while exercising the normal rights to founding a family and a home. In the Australian legal, political and cultural environment, the freedom of religion, includes the reasonable public expression of universal religious teaching of heterosexual marriage, universal here indicating that it is substantially supported by the three Noahide religions of Christian, Jewish and Muslim, as well as by many other community religions, eg Sikh. It is undeniably a fundamental religious obligation of many such adherents to publicly espouse their beliefs.
Adoption of the Noahide Laws advocated in Australian Parliament
8.54 Ms Eliana Freydel Miller advocated the adoption of the Universal Laws of Ethics and Morality:
recognition of God as Sole Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, and the prohibition of idolatry; prohibition of blasphemy; prohibition of murder; prohibition of incest, adultery and all forms of immorality; prohibition of theft; establishment of courts of justice, and prohibition of the taking or eating from an animal while it is still alive. 8.55 Ms Miller saw these as laws of human decency for righteous humanity, given by God. They are valid for all time, but are rarely stated. She believed that Australia should be instrumental in the making of an historical and positive choice, promoting in schools and universities the teaching of the ethics and morality of these Laws.40
FOOTNOTE 40: Submissions, p. 807. These are also known as the 'Seven Universal Noahide Laws'.
As early as 2007 the Birmingham England City Council adopted the teaching of the Noahide Laws into the education system. The Noahide Laws are taught to be a "command" and a road to salvation, and the school system is seeking to garner sympathy for Noahide apologists in this regard by stating that because the Jews are called to educate the people on these laws, that this will cause anti-Semitism. The introduction to Noahide Law must be systematic because in several school districts the following same exact phrase has been added to the children's school books: "Seven laws given to Noah after the flood, which are incumbent on all humankind. These laws form the foundation for a just society." In addition, schools like St. Margarets are taking field trips to Jewish centers where they learn about "the importance of the Noahide Laws". These statements do not sound objective.
Religious education in Birmingham
Whilst the first Jew was the Biblical Abraham, Judaism draws its authority from an act of Divine Revelation on Mount Sinai, before a multitude of people. It was an awesome descent of Spirituality into the material world. The Divine communicated through Moses the written Law, the Torah (The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures), and the oral Law. This oral law was later partly written down in the important books of the Mishnah, Talmud and Midrash. A system of 613 commandments was specifically charged upon Jews. A system of 7 commandments, also known as the 7 Noahide Laws, was given to the whole of mankind. Compliance with these codes fulfils the Divine Will and affords a unique opportunity for the commanded (the people) to bond with the Commander (The Divine) through the command (Law). The reward for obedience to these two systems of Law is the same, a share in the spiritual World to Come. Judaism, therefore, does not seek conversions to Judaism but encourages others in a lifestyle that is in tune with the dictates of the 7 Noahide Laws. Jews, themselves, are required to be 'a light to the nations'. This has often placed them in a controversial role, which may become a key element contributing to anti-semitism.
Jervaulx enjoyed their trip to the Jewish Heritage Centre. We learnt about the Jewish Religion, explored the Shtetl and handled Jewish artefacts. We found out about Kosher food and the importance of the Noahide Laws.
The Sanhedrin is the highest legal court and ruling authority in the Jewish religion. It is likely that when the Noahide Laws come to fruition that the Sanhedrin will have jurisdiction over all Noahide courts. There is no official Sanhedrin at this time, however there is an unofficial Sanhedrin which is seeking recognition. This Sanhedrin has started the Organization of 70 Nations to compete with the United Nations which it says does not follow Noahide Laws, instead they aim to set up their own international court based on the Noahide Laws. Rabbi Yisrael Ariel is head of the Temple Institute which is funded by the Israeli government and promotes the Noahide Laws (here), he is also a member of the unofficial Sanhedrin. In a speech he made he made it clear that when the Jewish Messiah comes the Jews will spread the Noahide Laws globally through war. The "Sanhedrin" has blamed mass shootings in the US on a lack of Noahide Law, has called on non-Jews to adhere to "sexual purity" (no adultery/fornication/homosexuality) under the rubric of Noahide Law and the unofficial Sanhedrin has even asked the Chinese government to uphold the Noahide Laws. The Sanhedrin is also deeply involved in Noahide conversions, a topic we will get to later. The Noahide agenda has many arms, both official and unofficial.
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Organization of 70 Nations
On September 26, the Sanhedrin will be hosting the first conference of the Organization of 70 Nations at which representatives of several nations will attend. The conference is to bring together all of the nations under the common belief in the sanctity of the Bible and the sanctity of all of mankind. The members of the organization agree to the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple’s, as well as the sanctity of God’s covenant established with all of mankind through Noah. Every nation and ethnic group who sees itself as part of humanity and therefore accepts responsibility to join in a universal covenant of brotherhood of peace is invited to take their place in this Organization of 70 Nations.”
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The conference will address the inability of the United Nations to maintain peace among the nations. Included in this are the actions of the UN that contravene the Noahide principles that are the basis upon which humanity exists.
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The Organization of 70 Nations is expected to enable cooperation towards economic and social programs that will benefit all mankind. Included in this will be an international court based on Biblical principles. The court will be granted the mandate to protect the globe from ecological threats, mobilizing resources to stop hunger and advance agriculture, and advancing medicine for the good of all mankind.
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The invitation was signed by the members of the Sanhedrin which included Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman, and Rabbi Dov Stein, the secretary.
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In recognition for her battle against bias and prejudice in the UN, the Sanhedrin invited former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley to serve as the honorary president of the Organization of 70 Nations. Though Haley has yet to respond to the invitation, the Sanhedrin issued a commemorative coin to honor her accomplishments.
With all due respect to the rabbis and this holy audience, we have to raise a point here: we are talking about the Sanhedrin. We are talking about the purity of the court. As we said we are dealing with the Jewish people. What power does the Sanhedrin have with respect to the other nations of the world? Let's say they come here and decide to put on trial sentence to some punishment or other the Pope [Francis], or [US President] Obama, somewhere it is written what must be done about it. We read it earlier, although not all of it. This is the name of Maimonides. Maimonides says: This is what the Torah commanded us, what Moses commanded us, from the mouth of The Might [god]. When Maimonides says this, it means that it is a commandment from the Torah to take actions. Where is it written? We recently read [Deuteronomy 20:10]: "When though drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it". What is meant by 'peace'? Maimonides says that they must agree to follow the 7 Noahide Laws. So why do you call for war? Stay home! Why go to war? Because it is commanded from the Torah to take action! Just as there is a commandment to conquer the Land of Israel, there is a commandment to fight "Sanctioned Wars"! There are commandments. It is written. In a "Sanctioned War", if you see an attractive woman, then there is another commandment: Can you marry the woman, and if so, how? etc. These are commandments from the Torah. Who makes the decision to embark on "Sanctioned War"? King David asks The Sanhedrin! For example: "May I embark on a war with Northern Syria and Aleppo?" Maimonides says that King David went to The Sanhedrin and asked them if he could go out and conquer. Everything that David did was sanctioned by the High Court, that's what Maimonides says. Then he went out to conquer Northern Syria and Aleppo. This conquest by the people of Israel you decidde that they deserve all kinds of punishments, and so on, you summon them to court. And you decide whether to go for broke over it. That's not how it works. the law works differently [for them]. In Israel, you take the person and put him on trial. You take a convert to Judaism who did not follow the religious laws, you judge him and punish him. But non-Jews who do not follow the 7 Noahide Laws, such as "Though Shalt Not Kill" and "Though Shalt Not Steal", etc. you proclaim peace to them! Meaning, you ask them "Do you follow the 7 Noahide Laws? If so, we will allow you to live"."If not, you kill all their males, by sword. You only leave the women. How do you leave them? They must all agree to follow the 7 Laws. And that is how to impose the 7 Laws on that city. Someone just said: "We don't have the might to fight." But who decides if we have might or not? God! He gives you the might to raise and army. Therefor, he is the one who commanded [us] to go from city to city, conquer them all, and to impose the 7 Laws [throught] the world. That is the job of the Messiah, among others. He does not come as the Messiah, he comes to carry out these commandments! You conquer a city, and then they follow the 7 Laws. We will conquer Iraq, Turkey... we will get to Iran too. We will impose the 7 Noahide Laws on all of these places. But installing does not mean with courts! Rather, it means with war! But not just kill. Just the opposite. You say "I call upon you in peace." If they raise the flag [of surrender], and say, "From now on there is no more Christianity, no more Islam", the mosques and the Christian spires and their crosses come down, from now on we foll the 7 Noahide Laws." This is a task of the Messiah, to bring the entire world to the 7 Noahide Laws, for real. This is not a matter for court hearings, it is something to carry out! Plain and simple. Therefore, Maimonide says that if you see a person in the street who does not follow the 7 Laws, -- this is what he says -- if we have the might, you have to kill him. If you catch [US President] Obama on the street, and you know that he does not follow the 7 Laws, etc. (You are commanded to kill him.) Sorry? (You are commanded to kill him, and the sooner the better.) This is why Maimonides. If someone threatens you, to ruin you, to kill you, you kill him first. But there are numerous levels to the snake, and you have to go level by level. We cannot invent religious laws that do not exist. Maybe these words are not so pleasant to hear. But this is why we have to Torah of Moses. We are also forbidden to lie. We have to tell the whole Torah, the truth of it. May we all merit to follow the commandments and to see the Messiah follow these commandments.
Sanhedrin blames US mass shootings in lack of Noahide Law
Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin, informed Breaking Israel News that the Sanhedrin will sit this week to discuss the issue of mass killings and proper courses of action to prevent these tragedies.
“This is a sin that cuts across all boundaries and politics,” Rabbi Weiss emphasized. “The prohibition against spilling blood is one of the Seven Noahide Laws. Governments and leaders including the United Nations have ignored this, treating abortion and euthanasia as if they were positive acts.” The Sanhedrin is currently working to establish an Organization of 70 Nations to replace the United Nations.
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“Care must be taken that a person does not see himself as the ruler, the ultimate authority,” Rabbi Weiss cautioned. “This is a perverted understanding of the concepts of freedom and liberty. The basis of the Noahide Laws is that Hashem (God) is One and only he has the authority to give life or take it away.”
“Establishing a court system of justice is also one of the Noahide laws. It is incumbent upon the society to enforce this, to prevent the spilling of blood.”
As part of its initiative to establish an Organization of 70 Nations to replace the United Nations, the Sanhedrin made a call for the nations to adhere to principles of sexual purity. Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin, explained that this was extrapolated from the Rabbinic law which states that there are three sins that a Jew must choose to martyr himself rather than commit: idolatry, murder, and sexual transgression.
The first two sins are forbidden as part of the Noahide code incumbent upon all of mankind.
“The nations must purify themselves,” Weiss explained to Breaking Israel News. “This is a process of purifying your thoughts from idolatry. It also includes removing the sin of murder from their midst, which is expressed today through abortion and euthanasia. This also includes sexual purity.”
Only three weeks are left before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games open, and the demonstration against holding the games is joined by the Sanhedrin (Talmudical tractate) rabbis
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In their ruling, the judges clarify that they are not intervening in or opposing the country’s authority to convict criminals violating The Seven Laws of Noah (also referred to as the Noahide Laws), but cannot be so cruel as to turn them into a “organ bank.”
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The court called upon the Chinese government to adopt and enforce the Noahide Laws prohibiting murder and theft, and added that “the Jewish nation has experienced the Holocaust under the heavy hand of the Germans during the Nazi regime, which massacred millions of Jews, and therefore must be especially sensitive to the outcry of the persecuted.”
The Chief Rabbis of Israel are a legally recognized entity and they have influence over legal proceedings within the nation of Israel. They are also recognized as a supreme halakhic (Jewish law) and spiritual authority. Seeing that Israel is the world’s only Jewish State, and the Chief Rabbis are the supreme authority on Jewish law in Israel, it is safe to say that their opinion on Noahide Law would carry weight in the Jewish community and would also be considered authoritative. Lets see what some of the Chief Rabbis of Israel have had to say about Noahide Law.
“The Chief Rabbinate is recognized by law as the supreme halakhic and spiritual authority for the Jewish people in the State of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate Council assists the two chief rabbis, who alternate in its presidency. It has legal and administrative authority to organize religious arrangements for Israel’s Jews. It also responds to halakhic questions submitted by Jewish public bodies in the Diaspora. The Council sets, guides, and instructs those agencies subject to its authority concerning their activities and scope… The Rabbinical Courts are part of the State judicial system. They have exclusive jurisdiction over marriage and divorce by Jews and have parallel competence with district courts in matters of personal status, alimony, child support, custody, and inheritance. Religious court verdicts are implemented and enforced – as for the civil court system – by the police, bailiff’s office, and other agencies.”
Non-Jews may not live in Israel unless they follow the Noahide Laws
In 2016 Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef stated that non-Jews are not permitted to live in Israel unless they follow the Noahide Laws. He also made it clear that the only reason some non-Jews are allowed to live in Israel is because they are needed to serve Jews.
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef argues that Jewish law prohibits non-Jews from living in Israel unless they have accepted Noachide laws, adding that some non-Jews live in Israel to serve the Jewish population.
In a recording of Yosef’s weekly Saturday night lecture obtained by Channel 10, the rabbi can be heard saying, “According to Jewish law, it’s forbidden for a non-Jew to live in the Land of Israel – unless he has accepted the seven Noachide laws.” ... The seven Noachide laws include prohibitions on idolatry, blasphemy, murder, illicit sexual relations, stealing and eating the limb of a living animal, plus a positive commandment to establish court systems. ... The reason some non-Jews are allowed to live in Israel, Yosef continued, is to serve the Jewish population. “Who will be the servers? Who will be our assistants? Therefore, we leave them here in the land,” he said.
Let's take a look at a new book on Noahide Law that was published in 2008 called "The Divine Code". According to the book's description on Amazon it was endorsed by the Chief Rabbis of Israel.
World-wide interest in the Seven Commandments for the Children of Noah (all non-Jews) is growing rapidly, and great numbers of people around the world have already committed themselves to observe these commandments. However, until the publication of this landmark volume, a comprehensive, clear, and expertly researched English-language guide for observance and study of these Divine precepts has been lacking. The Divine Code, Volume I, is the result of an historic project by Ask Noah International. Originally compiled in two Hebrew volumes by Rabbi Moshe Weiner and endorsed by prominent Torah scholars, including a Chief Rabbi of Israel, it examines the Torah-law foundations and details of the Noahide precepts. Unique among the previous popular overviews of the subject, this authoritative text is footnoted with extensively researched Talmudic and post-Talmudic sources, and supplied with additional explanations and enlightening Editor's Notes throughout. It identifies and applies the fundamental principles by which the practical requirements for righteous living are determined for pious non-Jews.
Thankfully for us, the people at Ask Noah International who are behind the project to publish "The Divine Code" have uploaded some free chapters of the text to their website. We were able to download these chapters and read through their them. We were looking for the modern opinion on Noahide Law, and here is what we found:
“All the Gentiles of the world were henceforth eternally commanded to accept upon themselves and to fulfill these seven Divine precepts, because the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded them in the Torah, and He made known through Moses our teacher that the descendants of Noaĥ had previously been commanded to do them.[7]
All Gentiles (non-Jews) of the world are commanded to accept the Noahide Laws? Well that does sound like it is in line with what we read from the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia (here). Now that we know what the Noahide Laws are, discriminatory Jewish religious laws, the idea that a modern Jewish scholar is suggesting the whole earth is commanded to follow them is a bit unsettling. But wait, there is a footnote at the end of the paragraph. Footnote 7 tells us to reference “Rambam, Laws of Kings 8:11″. "Rambam" is short for the Mishnah Torah which was published by the legal scholar Maimonides, here is what Laws of Kings 8:11 says:
8.11 “A Woman of Beauty who does not want to forsake (her) idolatry after the twelve months is executed. Similarly, we do not make a treaty with a city which came and made peace with us until they completely relinquish their idolatry, destroy its places, and accept the rest of the Commandments commanded of the Sons of Noah. For any non-Jew who is under our jurisdiction and fails to accept the Noahide Commandments is executed.” - (Mishneh Torah (Rambam), Laws of Kings and Wars, 8.11)
If a woman does not give up her “idolatry” she is executed? Non-Jews under Jewish jurisdiction who refuse to accept the Noahide Commandments are executed? Again, this does sound pretty extreme, and this is being advocated in modern Jewish texts? But even if we disagree with this extremely biased, bigoted, and murderous statement, does this law really apply to the whole world, or does it just apply in Israel? National injustices are a different question than the global implementation of Noahide Law. Does the Rambam have anything to say about Noahide Law on an international scope? We found the answer to this question on the very same page as verse 8:11. Verse 8:13 states the following:
“Moses our Teacher was commanded by the Almighty to compel the world to accept the Commandments of the Sons of Noah. Anyone who fails to accept them is executed.” – (Mishneh Torah (Rambam), Laws of Kings and Wars, 8.13)
The Mishneh Torah (aka Rambam) has compelled the entire world to accept Noahide Law, and those of us who refuse are executed? Well now that is something serious indeed. It is shocking to think that a modern day Rabbi would be referencing such materials.
Please Note: Noahide apologists will often state that the command to implement Noahide Law globally is not applicable in an age where there is no Temple or Sanhedrin (Judaism's highest legal court) - Rabbi Schneerson disagreed with this sentiment and said there was no need for any established Temple of Sanhedrin to implement Noahide Law, and Rabbi Schneerson is elevated to the leadership of world Jewry in both national and international proclamations (here). We will be discussing this further in another article.
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What did the Chief Rabbis have to say about "The Divine Code"
Rabbi Yona Metzger was a Chief Rabbi of Israel from 2003-2013. He gave his official approval to “The Divine Code”, here is what he said:
Letter of blessing, from Israel’s Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi, Rabbi Yona Metzger:
With the Help of Heaven, Adar II 26, 5768 / April 2, ’08
The honorable book was brought before me, of great quality and quantity, by Rabbi Moshe Weiner (may he live for many long and good days), called “Sheva Mitzvot HaShem,” which is about the Seven Commandments for the Children of Noah, and is a “Shulkhan Arukh” for all the Torah Laws for Gentiles.
As I skimmed through the pages, I very much enjoyed seeing how the Rav who wrote this gathered and explained, intelligently and with sharpness and depth, all the Torah Laws that are related to and result from this topic, which very few have been involved in. It seems to me that no one else has come to address it, and now that this Rav has authored and categorized it, he should be happy, and happy is his lot, and from Heaven he has merit.
Because of the importance and uniqueness of this book, and since many of the matters included in it are relevant to nations whose language is not Hebrew, I see great importance and benefit in translating the book into the English language. This will enable multitudes of Gentiles to learn it, and receive maximum benefit from it. Here I sign with much blessing to the Rav who authored this book, that he and this book of his should merit to be accepted with love and affection among the other parts of Torah. The merit of spreading out and instilling belief in the Creator of the world amongst all the people of the world, which is the aspect of perfecting the world in the Kingdom of G-d, should stand for him and his household as a blessing in every way possible for good, spiritually and materially, with health, happiness and much joy. Amen, may it be His will.
With great honor, Yona Metzger Chief Rabbi of Israel
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger stated: “I very much enjoyed seeing how the Rav who wrote this gathered and explained, intelligently and with sharpness and depth, all the Torah Laws that are related to and result from this topic”. But some of these referenced Torah laws advocated the killing of Gentiles (non-Jews) who do not adhere to the Seven Noahide Laws. Rabbi Yona Metzger is a Chief Rabbi of the Jewish state, his knowledge is used to execute legally binding statements on behalf of the Israeli government, so we would expect that Rabbi Yona Metzger would understand the breadth and depth of the Jewish laws as they are referenced in “The Divine Code”.
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Rabbi Shlomo Amar was also chief Rabbi of Israel from 2003-2013. He gave his official approval to “The Divine Code”, here is what he said:
Letter of blessing from Israel’s Chief Sefardic Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, President of the Great Rabbinical Court of Israel.
With the Help of Heaven, Tammuz 6, 5768 / July 9, 2008
I saw the good book, well-written and aptly titled “Sheva Mitzvot HaShem,” compiled and authored by the Rabbi and great scholar, Rabbi Moshe Weiner, may he live for many long and good days. I have also seen the immense work that was required to explain all the matters of the Seven Commandments for the Children of Noah, and this was done very well, written in simple, clear language, so that the reader can easily comprehend it. I bless him that G-d should send him success in all his endeavors, to continue in his holy work, and to author and publish more works in excellent physical health. And may it be G-d’s will that he see blessing in the work of his hands, that he has prepared for the sake of G-d, blessed be He.
Waiting for G-d’s salvation and mercy,Shlomo Moshe AmarChief Rabbi of Israel
Chief Rabbi Amar blessed the work and seemed to agree with its conclusions. But Rabbi Moshe Weiner in his book “The Divine Code” stated that Noahide Law is commanded upon all Gentiles of the world and referenced religious materials which call for the execution of Gentiles (non-Jews) who do not accept the Noahide Laws. It would be hard to believe that the Chief Rabbi made such a proclamation in ignorance… can we really assume that the legally recognized supreme authority on Jewish law in Israel would actually agree with the ideas presented in “The Divine Code”?
The Chief Rabbinate's agreement with Noahide Law is just another example of the Israeli governments involvement in the agenda (see more here).
