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"...Happy
is the man who fears the TRANSCENDENT One; who greatly delights in His commandments."
(Psalms 112:1; see also Psalms 119)
As
Rambam codified the 7 Laws of Noah in Hilkhot Melakhim u'Milhhamotheyham 10:13 [10] of the Mishneh Torah, he explained that someone who is not a Jew may voluntarily observe any of
the commandments of the Torah which a Jew is obligated to observe, for the reward of doing so - assumedly so long as the non-Jew
is already carefully keeping the Noahide Laws. Rambam lists as an exception the keeping of a Sabbath day as a Jew or
being occupied in Torah study as a Jew should be [ibid. 10:11-12]. Only Jews are permitted to fully observe these two things. Only the study of the Noahide Laws should
be the Torah study which occupies one who is not a Jew in the same manner that a Jew is occupied in the study of
all his obligations. Nonetheless, as already stated, a non-Jew may voluntarily take on other observances of the Torah
which a Jew is obligated in, with the exception of the already mentioned commandments. Infact, according to the
words of King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs, it appears that such a non-Jew who chooses to keep extra commandments
given to Israel, on the above conditions, is acting wisely. "The wise in heart shall take-up commandments, but
a talkative fool will be ruined." Mishlei (Proverbs) 10:8; It stands to reason that he is allowed to learn how to properly keep whatever
particular commandment he chooses to voluntarily fulfill, since his voluntary observance of additional Torah-commands is conditioned
on his observing them properly. How else would he know how to properly keep such commandments if not by some
level of Torah study? He should only be careful not to occupy himself with deep study of such commandments he voluntarily
chooses to observe, such as the Talmudic development of a halakha. I imagine that he should limit such learning to the
guidance of learned Jews or to "psak halakha" - the already clarified rulings of Jewish law such as the those contained
in the Mishneh Torah.
!!LEARN HEBREW!! - 'Common. At least learn
the Hebrew Alphabet.
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(This article concerns practical Jewish laws (halakhoth) that are either little known, forgotten
by the Jewish world in general, that were pushed aside in favor of more recent innovations, or that simply lost favor
in the eyes of 'rov haAm' - most of the people for various reasons)
(only binding upon Israel - the Jewish people):
[ Leemud Torah ]
[ T'feylah ]
Gossip
[ Leshon ha'Rah ]
[ S'neeuth ]
Duties of the Heart [ Hhovoth haLevavoth ] - Awesome and ancient book worth
reading, free online.
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BECOMING A JEW:
If
a non-Jew wants to express his love toward the Creator in the fullest sense possible, without being limited to the Noahide
Laws and prohibited to keep the Sabbath, and kept at a distance from the people of Israel, then there is no other option for
him but to become a Jew. A non-Jew must either accept the Noahide Laws and live according to them, without
inventing his own religion or religious ways, or fully convert and become a full member of the People of Israel.
While
there is no obligation for a person to become a Jew, and for an unprepared person such an act would be dangerous and possibly
traumatic, yet if the individual truly desires to serve the Almighty and to carry out His Will with ALL his heart, life, and
ability (potential), then it is a positive and praiseworthy act for him to do so; and personally, I would dare to
say, in accordance with Mishlei (Proverbs) 10:8, that for him to become a Jew would in such a case be among the "Dictates of Reason," being that the Almighty has graced the individual with such a holy desire. In the words of Duties of the Heart (chap.
6, p. 302-305) , one's obligations in the "Dictates of Reason" are parallel to one's blessings; and wisdom is certainly a blessing. If you want to know more about becoming
a Jew, please leave a message in the Guestbook.
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