This is a continuation to my previous blog entry. I am attempting to show that beliefs like Rabbi Shapira's of Israel are embedded deeply in the halacha of the ancient and mid-age Rabbis and Sages. But doing that without quoting the many statements that speak good of Gentiles will only show bias which I am trying to avoid. The fact is, there is much confusion and difference of belief in rabbinic writing on the subject (on every subject for that matter) that leaves us totally dazed asking the question, were these people knew what they were doing? So, I will quote tit for tat.
Tit:
"R. Jeremiah said: Whence can you know that the Gentile who practice the Torah is equal to the High Priest? Because it says, 'which if A MAN do, he shall live through them' (Lev.18:5). And it says, 'This is the Torah of man' (II Sam.7:19). It does not say: 'The Torah of Priests, Levites, Israelites,' but, 'This is the Torah of man, O Lord God.' And it does not say, Open the gates, and let the Priests and Levites and Israel enter,' but it says, "open the gates that a righteous Gentile may enter' (Isaiah 26:2); and it says, 'This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter it.' It does not say, 'The Priests and the Levites and Israel shall enter it,' but it says, 'The righteous shall enter it' (Psalm 118:20). It does not say, ;Rejoice ye, Priests, Levites and Israelites,' but it says, ' Rejoice ye righteous' (Psalm 33:1). And it does not say, ;Do good, O Lord, to the Priests and the Levites and the Israelites,' but it says, 'Do good O Lord, to the good' (Psalm 125:4). So even a gentile, if he practises the Torah, is equal to the High Priest." (Sifra 86b; Bava Kamma 38a).
A qualification here: Since the connection is made to Lev. 18:5, it seems that the Torah which is referenced here for a Gentile are only the Moral Laws. Sanhedrin 58b is very harsh on a Gentile who does not become a proselyte but keeps the Shabbat and other ceremonial laws. (As if the shabbat is immoral....).
Tat:
Sanhedrin 59b posted opposite opinions on the matter. We read the first one that a Gentile who studies the Torah is likened to a High Priest. Here is the opposite opinion:
"R Jochanan said: ' A Gentile who studies the Torah deserves death, for it is written, " Moses commanded us the Torah as an inheritance, it is OUR inheritance, not Theirs.'" (Sanhedrin 59b).
the Rabbis of course had all the answers. In order to settle these conflicting statements the Talmud answers:
"In this case he is engaged in the seven Noachide commandments. (Sanhedrin 59b). The Tosaphot on Avoda Zara 3a adds that a Gentile is permitted to study those specific seven Noachide commandments-and if he learned more than this, he is punishable by death.
The Rambam gave it his own stamp of approval:
"A Gentile who engaged in Torah is punishable by death. he should not engage in anything other than their seven commandments alone." (The Laws of Kings chapter 10, halacha 9).
So, fine blog readers (Judah do I have to pay royalties?)here you have it. Please let me know if you would have liked to read some more.
This is part of what, for me, makes studying the writings of the sages so difficult: the dizzying collection of apparent contradictions and the seemingly convoluted explanations the sages use to "resolve" them. Of course, I don't have the benefit of a classic Yeshiva education, nor did I grow up with that particular mindset relative to Talmud, so it could be that my perspective is just severely skewed.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I also believe it's impossible for the Gentile to study just the Seven Noahide Laws (as some of the sages suggest) and expect to get a full understanding of what God requires of all human kind. There is so much in the wisdom of the Bible from which all people can benefit, that I can't believe isolating Gentiles into studying less than a faction of 1 percent of the Word of God is what He had in mind.
Interesting post. My brother is a Rambamist, and I can see why he's so gung-ho about the Noahide laws.
ReplyDeleteLet's recap: In the Talmud, regarding gentiles and Torah, there are both negative statements (gentiles studying Torah should be killed) and positive statements (gentiles that study Torah will be blessed).
These statements are conflicting.
The conflict is resolved by saying gentiles can study only the Noachide laws.
The Talmud isn't my cup of tea. Is there more commentary on gentiles and Torah?
Oh, Dan, as for royalties... Give me my monies, pay up, boy! :-)
Judah,
ReplyDeleteYou got it. There is a lot more about gentile and torah in the halacha and writings of the Rabbis/Sages. I will continue to show more.
I have to admit, I'm rather fond of Rambam. Rashi makes me nuts, though.
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteA while back I shared a link to a YUTorah talk by one R' Schlesinger on Gentiles and Torah which surveys these texts and gives an explanation of one way to harmonize them. (Spoiler: the resolution doesn't limit Gentiles to the Noachide laws.)
Best,
Yahnatan