Since
my earliest years I was always interested in the messianic era and it’s
spiritually inclusive possibilities for all humanity. So, the question of
what’s the spiritual role of the whole humanity has never been far from my
mind. Over the years, I have looked into Judaism for various clarifying clues.
For starters Judaism teaches that, as a basic, God gave the non-Jewish nations
seven commandments to live by. They are:
- Believe in One God,
- Don’t murder,
- Don’t steal,
- Be upright in matters of intimacy,
- Don’t eat flesh amputated from (non-aquatic) living creatures,
- Only speak only positively about God,
- Support a fair system of justice for all.
Besides
these seven, there’s a command for all males, who can, to procreate. There’s
also another commandment on all males of proven Abrahamic descent to be
circumcised. This includes those who can directly trace their biological
lineage to Ishmael. There’s yet another commandment which is not officially
part of the list. Its part of what God commanded the Jewish People.
Since, in general, the nations practice it as well, it is deemed as if
they made it binding upon them. This is the commandment to honor one’s parents.
When
one looks at this list of Noahide commandments, on the surface, it does not seem
to contain sufficient content to satisfy the needs of a person seriously
aspiring for a religious life. This has been my reaction after thorough reading
the book, “Path of the Righteous Gentile”. I dismissed this reaction thinking
to myself, “Maybe I am just being subjective.” However, I have since heard this
remark from others as well. The what’s next question for those
among the nations who have put themselves out to be connected to the Jewish
People, as Noahides, has haunted me until rather recently. It wasn’t just a
question which simply lingered in the back of my mind. It was a question
which haunted me. It haunted me on many levels, not the least of which
was that it is highly unkind not to be concerned with the spiritual welfare of
my fellow human beings.
I
am aware that the Noahide Code is really a lot deeper than it seems at first
glance. There is a wealth of details included in each of its seven
commandments. The commandments themselves are just broad general categories.
However, even with this understanding I have heard that seriously religious
Noahides sometimes seek something more.
In
truth, there are possible devotional directions which can address the what’s
next question. Since the Noahide way of life is intended to cover a very
broad population, it make sense to me that God intentionally kept it very basic
and broad, as “one size does not necessarily fit all”. This way it’s flexible
enough to be applied in a variety of cultural settings.
Among
the what’s next steps I could think of are:
- Adding levels of refinement in the understanding and practice of the
Noahide commandments themselves. For example, stretching one’s
understanding of what it means that God is One can become a very
consuming mystical and/or philosophical exercise, which can have lifestyle
altering implications in one’s perspective and practice.
- Accepting Torah commandments which until now are normally only
practiced by Jews. Most of them can be practiced without entering into
controversial territory. Though it’s not as valuable as if practiced by a
Jew, because it’s voluntary rather than commanded, still it
does enhance one’s relationship with his or her Creator. For example,
kindness and philanthropy is part of what the Torah commands Jews. So,
devotional efforts in this direction could include increasing one’s
involvement with kindness and philanthropy.
- More organized community activity in
prayer and Torah study (of scripture, applicable practices and underlying
concepts).
- Actively working to spread Noahide teachings among the rest of
humanity.
I
have heard that on one level or another, suggestions for further spiritual
growth are already being put into practice. I also would not be surprised if
there are many other growth enhancing measures taking place which I am not
aware of at all. After all, as of the time of this writing, I am an “outsider”
to these communities. So, more likely than not, I really don’t know.
I
would like to propose an additional what’s next option which I honestly
do not know whether or not it has been considered. I am only proposing it in
case it hasn’t been considered or has not been thought through in the style
that I am presenting it.
The
Talmud on the last page of Tractate Sanhedrin teaches that every prophecy
portending positive events God commits Himself to carry through on. However, a
prophecy portending negative events God reserves the right to renege on. If
this is true with the prophecies of Moses, how much more so is it true of Talmudic
accounts about less than positive events which may happen in the future? So,
the following scenario presented by the Talmud at the beginning of Tractate
Avodah Zarah does not necessarily have come true. Through a change in their
ways, the nations of the world can likely alter it. I speculate that maybe, it
was actually put there as a lesson to offer spiritual direction to humanity.
The
Talmud relates that in the future, God will hold a Torah scroll to His chest
(figurative language of course) and ask the nations, “Who involved themselves
with this?” Each nation will claim that it’s every amazing accomplishment was
only motivated by the dream of helping the Jews study Torah. They will
elaborate that they built marketplaces, bathhouses, bridges, amassed wealth,
conquered nations ... all to fabricate havens of Torah study. Of course God
will throw these arguments back in their faces, retorting that they selfishly toiled
for their own interests and that they failed to sufficiently credit God for what
they accomplished.
Notice
that the nations do not respond that there were Biblically based commandments
or values that they had genuinely practiced, legislated and/or promoted over
the course of human history. From the nations’ choicest answers, one can reasonably
infer the nature of God’s question to them. God’s question is obviously how
much help and support have they provided the Jews over the course of history to
study Torah and practice its precepts.
According
to Judaism, God offered the Torah to all nations before offering it to the
Jews. The other nations rejected it, claiming that they found its precepts too
difficult to follow. God never faulted them for their rejection. He never held
them bound to what they never asked for. However, since He did come around to
them expressing that He has a precious treasure to offer humanity and
He’s just looking for a taker, He probably expected the nations to at least be
helpful and supportive of this great project. If it mattered to the Creator of
the universe, it should have mattered (on some level) to them too. How could
they be so brazen to their Creator? Their rejection may have gotten them mostly
off the hook, but not entirely.
However,
it is not too late! Due to the ravages of persecution during the long Diaspora,
the Jewish people, as a whole, are far from a peak level of Torah observance.
It is not their fault! These are not Biblical times, when they recently
witnessed unmistakably open miracles of God’s favor. This is a period
following, ages upon ages of heart rending persecution with devastating effects
on the Jewish national and religious psyche. Many Jews have suffered and are
suffering on one level or another from sincere discouragement. They may not
express it this way and to hide their pain even mask it with intellectual
excuses. But, discouragement is what it really is. This discouragement has a
snowball effect into other areas as well; weakening their observance of
Judaism. One example of such is that less Jewish children are being educated in
the ways of the Torah. This is very sad considering that the whole welfare of
humanity and ultimately the arrival of the Messiah depend on the Jewish People
observing the Torah.
Though
unfortunate, I think this situation presents a very unique spiritual opportunity
for Children of Noah seeking new avenues for their own spiritual growth and
development. They could participate in reversing the course of this
discouragement by being involved with projects helping the Jewish People back
to their proper state of spiritual health. There are many, many avenues of
participation. It is not my object to preach and promote, but simply to teach
and inspire those who are interested. So, here are some possible examples, but
not specific endorsements…
- Working at a vocation which helps rebuild the Torah instructure of the
Jewish People, as was done by Vendel Jones, of blessed memory, in his
career as a Biblical archaeologist.
- Volunteering in Jewish communities in ways which help rebuild the
Torah infrastructure of the Jewish People. This is a great option for
people who can only perform such work on a part time basis.
- Donating to organizations which help rebuild the Torah infrastructure,
such as
- Jewish elementary and high schools,
- Organizations that do outreach to strengthen Torah observance among
Jews themselves. As stated, many Jews (largely, because of the
discouragement felt by earlier generations) were never even provided with
the education necessary to properly practice Judaism,
- Synagogues and community centers,
- Orphanages, old age homes and organizations intended to help the
needy.
This
is not intended as a comprehensive list of suggestions. Far from it! They are
just intended as a few general pointers to hopefully get the ball rolling!
Judaism
teaches that someone who helps another perform a Torah commandment, get’s
spiritual credit for assisting. On some level, it’s as if he or she did the
commandment as well. The example of this most commonly cited in Judaism is that
if one person studies Torah all day, as a career, and another person
financially supports him to do so, the one who financially supported him gets
to share in the spiritual light of his partner’s Torah study. It’s as if he
studied Torah too, since the Torah study would not have been possible without
him. Based on this, it makes sense to me that if a Noahide supports Torah study
and Judaism, he or she has a spiritual share in it as well.
Epilogue
- Going Mystical:
The
main point has already been made above. The following is only for those who
want to see the topic more deeply, as presented by Judaism’s branch of
mysticism, known as Kabbalah. If what I write here confuses you, please
disregard it entirely; as it’s only addressing people who are already of a
certain perspective.
Kabbalah
teaches that part of the reason for why the world is (perfectly) imperfect is
because the spiritual realms are in a state of disrepair. Since the higher
spiritual realms act as “pipelines” to bring down spiritual lights and
blessings into the world, if they are not “whole” the flow of goodness into
this world is compromised. The reason why they are not yet “whole” is because
much of their raw material is still strewn around the earthly realm. It’s like
a damaged building who’s concrete, bricks, wiring, piping… has been partly
strewn about on the street level.
The
scattered material of the higher spiritual realms is referred to as, “sparks of
holiness”. When a Jew does a Torah commandment, he or she elevates some
spark(s) of holiness back to the higher spiritual realms, where they get
assimilated for the purposes of repair and rebuilding those realms; thus,
improving the channels which bring lights and blessings into our world. From
this perspective, this is why the welfare of humanity depends on the Jews
living according to the Torah. It’s the way humanity receives blessing.
The
Kabbalist and father of the late Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, Rabbi Solomon Eliyahu
teaches that the way non-Jews participate in elevating the sparks of
holiness is by assisting Jews to perform the Torah’s commandments (see “Kerem
Shlomo”, Volume 1, pages 242 and 243). This assistance occurs even if it’s
not done consciously.
Just
imagine how much greater the spiritual force such assistance could be if it is
offered consciously with clear intent to serve God?
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