Questions From B'nai Noach's - Ask Questions here!

Shalom Dr. A. Gamliel,

I have some questions: How should a Noachide’s daily prayer(s) be? I know that the Jews have the obligation to pray three times a day (Shacharit, Minchah and Maariv) and they are obliged to recite Shema Israel twice a day (in the morning and in the evening). But how about us, Noachides? I pray daily Jewish prayers, that is, Shacharit, Minchah and Maariv, I say Shema Israel as well and I follow Halachich times (Zmanim) for praying. I don’t know if it’s right for a Noachide to do so, I do it since I have no guidance on how a Noachide should recite their daily prayers. I read that it is forbidden for Noachide to observe Shabbat, is it true? Thank you.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk,

Hello! I wanted to thank you for your websites that you allow non Jews to read! I have been Mormon my whole life but please understand I mean no disrespect to you at all .I promise I have not tried to convert Jews and I was raised by parents who ingrained in me that that was an insult to the Jewish people so I can honestley say I never have .I tell you that so that you know I did not read the teachings on your site as a way to find info as I know my church’s history with trying to actively baptize the names of Jewish people and I fully appreciate your stand on that . I have spent the last 10 years feeling shame about not paying a full tithe to my church because my husband and I have been taking care of our family. It did not matter how hard we tried to help our fellow man who is down and out , our parents , or volunteer our time because without that 10% being paid ( no matter the budget)we are considered evil ,disobedient and going to burn!!! I have experienced extreme guilt and shame from my own church over this for years and it was at the request of my BEST friend of 13 years Shira that I came across your teachings Guidelines for Giving. Thank you for having TRUTH there for us non Jews to read .I can now say that what I have been taught is a LIE! It changed my life and I wanted to say thank you ! I hope I have not been offensive in anyway if I was I am sorry. Dacia

Shalom KSJ, Thank you for your questions and comments. It is not possible to fully answer your questions as I would like. We spend months discussing the answers to your questions in Bereisheit 103. However the questions you pose are among the most asked by B’nai Noach so I will give a brief answer. To follow along with the audios it will be necessary to have a Siddur, {Prayer book}. The Siddur I am teaching from is:

The Schottenstein Edition Siddur for Weekdays With An Interlinear Translation (Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Brooklyn, NY first edition 2002)

This can be ordered through the Learning Store at B’nai Noach Torah Institute at http://www.bnti.us/learningstore/thelearning_store.html Click on the Artscroll link.

Audio 1 - c032408 Noach Shabbat Observance? Noach Prayers? Part 1 Here I discuss your question, Is it forbidden for a Noachide to observe Shabbat? I discuss the basis from Ha Torah and other sources requiring Noachides to pray to G-d. http://www.bnti.us/blogaudios/c032408prayersnoachidescanprayp1.mp3

Audio 2 - c032408 - Prayers Noachides Can Pray - Part 2 Here I discuss what prayers a Noachide may say but is not required to say. http://www.bnti.us/blogaudios/c032408prayersnoachidescanprayp2.mp3

Since we offer this information in greater detail in Bereisheit 103 it will be necessary to take the course for an in-depth understanding.

Pesach is fast approaching. Can B’nai Noach Observe any part of Pesach?

Tribbles,

There is no part of Pesach that I am aware of that a B’nai Noachide can participate in. There are a number of reasons. Below are a few. I understand this can be quite hurtful to B’nai Noach. Please remember that B’nei Yisroel were the ones who were enslaved, who suffered and who were murdered. Pesach is when B’nei Yisroel became a nation. It must be looked upon in this sense. This is why B’nai Noach cannot participate in the Observances of Pesach.

…the cry of B’nei Yisroel has come before Me… Shemot 3.9

Now go. I Am Sending you to Pharaoh and you will bring My people, the B’nei Yisroel, out of Mitzriam… Shemot 3.10

This is what you must say to B’nei Yisroel, Eheyeh Sent me to you. Shemot 3.14

Hashem, the G-d of your fathers, the G-d of Avraham, the G-d of Yitzchok, and the G-d of Yaakov, Sent me to you… Shemot 3.15

Go, Gather the Elders of Yisroel and say to them… Shemot 3.16

You will say to Pharaoh, This Is What Hashem Said, Yisroel is My firstborn… send out My son and let him serve Me. Shemot 4. 22,23

…Moshe and Aharon went to Pharaoh and said, This is what Hashem, G-d of Yisroel Said, Send My people so they may celebrate a festival to Me in the wilderness… Shemot 5.1

B’nei Yisroel suffered, the officers of B’nei Yisroel suffered Shemot 5.7-121

I also Have Established My Covenant with them to Give them the land of Canaan… Shemot 6.4

I Will Take you to Myself as a people and I Will Be to you G-d… Shemot 6.7

Say to him, Hashem, G-d of the Hebrews, Sent me to you to say [to you] Send out My people that they may worship Me in the wilderness. Shemot 7.16

Send out My people so they may worship Me… Shemot 7.26

…you are oppressing My people refusing to send them out. Shemot 9.17

Only in the land of Goshen where the B’nei Yisroel were, there was not hail. Sheomt 9.26

…Send My people out that they may worship Me. Shemot 10.3

In Shemot 11 we see the first possibility that may include someone other than B’nei Yisroel. The term Haw Awm {the people / the nation } is used several times. However, even though this is the situation, the prophecy that was fulfilled had to do with B’nei Yisroel. Here is an example:

Hashem Made a covenant with Avram. Bereisheit 15.18 Compare Shemot 6.4

They will be foreigners… they will enslave them… they will oppress them during 400 years… Bereisheit 15.13

…that nation whom they serve I Will Judge… Bereisheit 15.14

… they will leave with great wealth. Bereisheit 1`5.15 Compare Shemot 11.3

The Sages point to Shemot 11.8 which does not include just B’nei Yisroel. Then all these, your servants [Pharaoh etc.] will come down to me, and prostrate themselves saying, Go! You and all the people [Vih_Cawl Haw Awm] that follow you. Shemot 11.8 Here it is clear that this includes converts. Ha Torah Does Not Appear to be Speaking to B’nai Noach. Later a serious problem develops because of the people Moshe brought out of Mitzriam in addition to B’nei Yisroel. The converts ushered in the sin of the golden calf. Rashi calls the converts, the riffraft whom you accepted, on your own accord, and you accepted as proselytes without consulting Me, and you thought it good that proselytes be joined to the Shechinah - they have become corrupt and have corrupted others. Rabbi Avrohom Davis / Rabbi Avrohom Kleinkaufman, The Metsudah Chumash / Rashi Shemot(Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc. 1993) p 514

The Stone Chumash says, Your people. This was an implied rebuke to Moshe, as if to say, These who caused the sin are your people, the Egyptian Eirev Rav, whom you accepted without consulting G-d. (Rashi) Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Stone Edition The Chumash (Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 1993), p. 495

This is why I am constantly concerned that proper procedures be followed at B’nai Noach Torah Institute. It is a serious matter.

This month shall be [reckoned] to you [as] the head [beginning] of months. It shall be to you the first of months of the year. Shemot 12.2

The community of Yisroel was commanded to take a lamb for the Pesach Sacrifice. Shemot 12

The blood will be for you [B’nei Yisroel] as a sign on the houses… Shemot 12.13 This Passuk {Verse} of HaTorah Establishes a major objection to the New Testament claim that Jesus was the passover lamb which takes away the sins of the [entire] world as stated in John 1:29. Pesach was exclusively directed towards B’nei Yisroel. It was B’nei Yisroel that was commanded to take the Pesach lamb for their immediate family. The protection was only for those who placed blood on their door post. The protection from death was for the firstborn NOT the entire world. This had NOTHING to do with sin.

This will be for you a [day of] rememberance… Shemot 12.14

You must eat matzot for seven days… Shemot 14.15

This type of individualizing continues on… Shemot 14.15 - 18

Shemot 12.19 includes the converts to Judaism..

I could go on but Ha Torah is clear that the Observance of Pesach is to be for B’nei Yisroel and the converts to Judaism.

This is a holy day that B’nei Yisroel remembers and observes. So what can a Noachide do? There is no part of Pesach that I am aware of that a Noach can participate in. During Pesach, we observe our highest level of kashrut, B’nei Yisroel is commanded to remove leavened products from their homes, etc. We use our finest silverware, dishes, pots and pans. Why? There are a number of reasons. This is the most exclusive observance of the year for B’nei Yisroel. Rosh HaShanah {the Day of Judgment, the day of remembering} and Yom Kippur {the day of atonement} are open for everyone on different levels, but Pesach is not. Now I have not had the opportunity to learn everything that is written about Pesach so there is the possibility that I may be missing something. Even though the door appears closed let’s leave some room for that possibility.

Listen to an audio discussion about this subject: http://www.bnti.us/blogaudios/c040908noachpesachobservance.mp3

Shalom Dr. A. Gamliel,

I have read that it is forbidden for Bnei Yisroel to enter a church because it is a house of idolatry. I guess that the same rule applies to Bnei Noach. My opinion is it is fine that if we visit a church or a temple to see the art, architecture or to see what is inside as long as we do not participate in worshipping their gods. I ask this because there are lots of churches and temples which are worth visiting because of its architecture or history. What does HaTorah really say about this?

Listen to an audio discussion about this subject: http://www.bnti.us/blogaudios/c050408religious_places.mp3

Dr. Akiva Gamliel I had a rather small BUT yet important question. I have learned a great deal from the teachings of Ha Tenach, your Limoods & Parshas and other various sources. My Fiancee is Jewish but does not understand the difference of  Spirituality of B’nai Noach’s from B’nai Yisrael. I have tried to explain to her the difference from my knowledge but I am still lacking. I really cant’ find a debating factor as a B’nai Noach to explain to her that I am not trying to be Jewish but be a “Faith Seeker” or B’nai Noach instead. I guess beside the 613 laws that were given to B’nai Yisraels and the 66 to B’nai Noach’s what are other discrepancies separates B’nai Noach from B’nai Yisrael? I would gather that Pasach is one difference, right? Also reading from the Torah in a Synagogue ?? I guess I also am a little confused on the pros’s & con’s of a B’nai Noach to a B’nai Yisrael.   Thank you, SSG Eddy

Questions from bnai noachs ask.. Very nice :)