B'nei Noah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
B'nei Noah or "Children of Noah" is an ancient concept in Jewish Tradition. According to the tradition gentiles are required only to observe the 7 Noahide Laws rather than the more extensive observance required of the chosen people. The B'nei Noah are those gentiles who are observant of the Noahide Laws. The term now applies to a modern religious movement.
Contents |
[edit] Modern Movement
A modern movement known as the B'nei Noah or B'nei Noach has appeared in which members endeavour to follow the Noahide Laws. A High Council of B’nei Noah was endorsed on January 10, 2006 by the newly formed Sanhedrin in Israel and purports to represent B'nei Noah communities around the world.
[edit] The Seven Laws of Noah
The seven laws listed by the Talmud are[1]
- Prohibition of Idolatry: - You shall not make for yourself an idol.
- Prohibition Murder: - You shall not murder.
- Prohibition of Theft: - You shall not steal.
- Prohibition of Sexual Promiscuity: - You shall not commit adultery.
- Prohibition of Blasphemy: - You shall not blaspheme.
- Prohibition of Cruelty to Animals: - Do not eat the flesh of a living animal.
- Requirement to have just Laws: - You shall set up an effective government to police the preceding six laws.
[edit] Theological Background
According to the Tanach, B’nei Noah are descendants of Noah. Noah’s children Shem, Ham, and Japheth along with their wives and Noah’s wife Naamah survived the flood aboard the ark along with Noah. Once the survivors were able to leave the ark for dry ground they began to start new families and repopulate the earth. Thus to the B'nei Noah all living humans are decendents of Noah and are thus subject to the Noahide laws - although Jews as the chosen people have further responsibilities placed on them.
The Medieval sage Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon (the Rambam) collected all of the decisions in the Talmud and halachic decisions in his time and laid them out clearly so that everyone would know their obligations. The Rambam called this great work the Mishnah Torah.
Not only were the Jewish Laws recorded with their explanations in the Mishnah Torah, but the Noachide Laws were also collected with their explanation in the Rambam’s great work in Sefer Shoftim in the last book Hilchot Melachim U’Milchamot.
