High Council of B'nei Noah
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The High Council of B'nei Noah is a group of Noahides who, at the request of the nascent Sanhedrin, gathered in Israel[1][2] on Monday January 10, 2006/10 Tevet 5766 to be recognized as an international Noahide organization for the purpose of serving as a bridge between the Sanhedrin and Noahides worldwide. There were ten initial members[3] who flew to Israel and pledged to uphold the Seven Laws of Noah and to conduct themselves under the authority of the Noahide beit din (religious court) of the Sanhedrin.
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[edit] The Council's conception
The idea for the Council was first conceived by Rabbi Avraham Toledano. He, as well as many others, understood that B'nei Noah, like Jews, need a body of recognized leaders and scholars to whom they can turn for guidance in their study and observance of Torah, and who can help to unify the communities around the world. To this end, suitable candidates were sought out who would be willing and able to establish such a body. These nominees were brought together in mid-2005 by the personal invitation of, and under the supervision of an authorized representative of the developing Sanhedrin, forming a proto-Noahide Council. The founding proto-Council members then appeared before the developing Sanhedrin, in Jerusalem, on January 9, 2006 (9 Tevet, 5766), and upon stating a special pledge of allegiance to the Noahide Covenant[4], they were granted official recognition as the first "High Council of B'nei Noah" by the rabbinical court.
[edit] Authority
The Council is not a beit din (court of judges), and does not have any legal (halakhic) power to make rulings. Rather, it is an autonomous body of Noahide leaders and scholars, working alongside the developing Sanhedrin, with its halakhic (religious) supervision and guidance, to promote the education, unification, and edification of Noahides and Noahide Communities around the world.
[edit] Appointment of members
The current members of the Council were personally invited to take part in this endeavor. However, the members of the Council were not "ordained". Rather, having been invited to participate, they agreed to work together to establish this Council.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sanhedrin Moves to Establish Council For Noahides
- ^ Arutz Sheva
- ^ These men were Professor Vendyl Jones, Jack Saunders, Billy Jack Dial, James D. Long, Bud Gill, Larry Borntrager, Roger Grattan, Jacob Scharff, Andrew Overall and Adam Penrod.
- ^ A Brief Introduction to the Noahide Covenant
