What’s Next?

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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