Questions:
- Are Bnei Noach commanded to have the same beliefs as Jews, e.g.:
- Belief in G-d?The Oneness of G-d?
- The prohibition of having other gods besides G-d Himself?
- Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 416โthe ban on idolatry is multifaceted
| With regard to idolatry, the entire prohibition is considered to be one commandment, and yet this one commandment has many specific details. For [Bnei Noach] share equally in the selfsame prohibition against idolatry as Israel, to the extent that they are liable in any case where a Jewish bet din would condemn an idolator to death. | ืืื ืขื ืื ืขืืืื ืืจื ืืื ื ืืฉื ืืื ืืฆืื ืืืช ืืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืื ืคืจืืื, ืฉืืจื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืขื ืื ืฉืืืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืช ืืื ืฉื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืชืื ืขืืื (ืฉื ื ื ื). |
I The Opinion of the Chazon Ish: Bnei Noach are forbidden to worship other gods, but their mitzvah might not necessarily include a specific concept of Hashem as long as their beliefs do not interfere with their fulfillment of the Sheva Mitzvot
2. Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz ืืฆ”ื, Chazon Ish, Yoreh Deโah, 62:20โis shituf permissible?
| It appears that the status of a person who violates the mitzvah of โyou shall not have any other gods before Meโ) applies when he refers to an idol as โmy godโ, but if he says to the idol, โyou are a godโ, he is simply acknowledging an idolatrous practice, but it is not considered worship. And one should carefully study Tosafot (Sanhedrin 63a), where it says that Bnei Noach are forbidden to hold heretical beliefs. And it would seem that, indeed, Bnei Noach are forbidden to hold heretical beliefs. Is it not true that the acceptance of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven is the foundation of the Noahide Commandments? However, it may be that the prohibition does not apply to verbal expression but rather to oneโs thoughts. And perhaps Bnei Noach are not liable for the heresy of shituf as long as they fulfill the seven mitzvot of the Master of the Worldโbut this requires further study. | ืื ืจืื ืืืืื ืืงืืื ืืืงื ืืฉืืืืจ ืืื, ืืื ืืฉืืืืจ ืื ืืชื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืื ืืื”ื ืืื ืืื ืื ืขืืื. ืืืค”ื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืจืื ืืืฉืื ืื ืืืฉ ืืขืืืืืืืจื ืชืืก’ (ืกื ืืืจืื ืกื: ื”ื ืืกืืจ) ืืืืชื ืืืื ื”ื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืื ืืื ืืช ืื ืจืื ืื”ื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืช ืืืื ืงืืืช ืืืืืช ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืกืื ืฉื ืฆืืื ื’ ืืฆืืืช, ืืืคืฉืจ ืฉืืื ืืืืกืืจ ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืืื, ืืืคืฉืจ ืืืืื ืืช ืฉื ืฉืืชืืฃ ืืื ื”ื ืืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืฉ ืงืืื ืืฆืืื ื’ ืืฆืืืช ืืคื ืืืื ืขืืื ืืฆ”ืข. |
3. Tosafot, TB Sanhedrin 63bโpossible leniency regarding shituf?
| It is forbidden for a person to enter a business partnership [with an idolator]: Rabbi Shmuel said, all the more would we not accept his oath. Rabbenu Tam says, it is permitted to accept his oath rather than lose oneโs money, as it is stated in Avoda Zara 6b, one may collect a debt for a verbal loan because it is akin to rescuing his money from their hands, and we are unconcerned that the idolator may utter some form of recognition of a godโfor we have doubts as to whether he will actually do that, whereas the lenderโs potential loss of money is virtually guaranteed. However, these days everyone swears oaths in the name of a deity even without attributing any actual godliness to it. And even if they add the Name of Heaven to the idol, their real intention is the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Even if they combine the Name of Heaven and something else (like an idol), we do not find that it is forbidden to cause that person to do this and the prohibition of lifnei iver does not applyโfor Bnei Noach are not forwarned regarding shituf. | ืืกืืจ ืืืื ืฉืืขืฉื ืฉืืชืคืืช – ืืืจ ืจ’ ืฉืืืื ื”ืฉ ืฉืืืขื ืขืฆืื ืืืื ืืงืื ืืืื ื ืืจ”ืช ืืืืจ ืืืชืจ ืืงืื ืืืื ื ืืฉืืืขื ืงืืื ืฉืืคืกืื ืืืืืจ ืืค”ืง ืืืก’ ืข”ื (ืืฃ ื:) ืืืืื ืข”ืค ื ืคืจืขืื ืืื ื ืืคื ื ืฉืืื ืืืฆืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืฉืื ื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืข”ื ืืืชื ืกืคืง ืืืื ืืืื ื”ื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืฉืืขืื ืืงืืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืชืืคืกืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืืข”ืค ืฉืื ืฉืืืืืจืื ืขืืื ืฉ”ืฉ ืืืืื ืชื ืืืืจ ืืืจ ื”ื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืขืืืืช ืืืืืื ืื ืืขืชื ืืขืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืข”ืค ืฉืืฉืชืคืื ืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืืจ ืืืจ ืื ืืฉืืื ืืืกืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืืจืื ืืฉืชืฃ ืืืคื ื ืขืืจ ืืืื ืืื ื ื ื ืื ืืืืืจื ืขื ืื: |
4. Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 8:11โconditions for a Noahideโs share in the World to Come
| Anyone who accepts upon himself the seven mitzvot and is careful to observe them is regarded as the pious of the nations of the world, and has a share in the World to Come. But this is only if he accepted this upon himself because he was commanded to do so by the Holy One, Blessed is He, in the Torah, and informed by Moses our teacher that the children of Noah were previously commanded. But if he does them because they seem rational to him, he is neither a ger toshav nor a โpious of the nationsโ but one of the โwise of the nationsโ. | ืึธึผื ืึทืึฐืงึทืึตึผื ืฉึถืืึทืข ืึดืฆึฐืึนืช ืึฐื ึดืึฐืึธืจ ืึทืขึฒืฉืืึนืชึธื ืึฒืจึตื ืึถื ืึตืึฒืกึดืืึตื ืึปืึผืึนืช ืึธืขืึนืึธื. ืึฐืึตืฉื ืืึน ืึตืึถืง ืึธืขืึนืึธื ืึทืึธึผื. ืึฐืืึผื ืฉึถืืึฐึผืงึทืึตึผื ืืึนืชึธื ืึฐืึทืขึฒืฉึถืื ืืึนืชึธื ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืฉึถืืฆึดึผืึธึผื ืึธึผืึถื ืึทืงึธึผืืึนืฉื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื ืึทึผืชึผืึนืจึธื ืึฐืืึนืึดืืขึธื ืึผ ืขึทื ืึฐืึตื ืืฉึถืื ืจึทืึตึผื ืึผ ืฉึถืืึฐึผื ึตื ื ึนืึท ืึดืงึนึผืึถื ื ึดืฆึฐืึทืึผืึผ ืึธึผืึถื. ืึฒืึธื ืึดื ืขึฒืฉึธืืึธื ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืึถืึฐืจึตืขึท ืึทืึทึผืขึทืช ืึตืื ืึถื ืึตึผืจ ืชึผืึนืฉึธืื ืึฐืึตืื ืึน ืึตืึฒืกึดืืึตื ืึปืึผืึนืช ืึธืขืึนืึธื ืึฐืึนื ืึตืึทืึฐืึตืืึถื: |
5. Kesef Mishna, loc cit.
| It appears to me that the Rambam is speaking according to his own logic, but it makes sense. | ื ืจืื ืื ืฉืจืืื ื ืืืืจ ืื ืืกืืจื ืื ืคืฉืื ืื ืืืื ืืื: |
6. Deuteronomy 4:6-8โthe intellectual appeal of Torah wisdom
| And you shall guard them carefully, and do them, for it is proof of your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations, who will hear about all of these statutes and say, โwhat a wise and understanding people this great nation is!โ For what great nation is there that has a god close by like Hashem, our G-d? And what great nation is there that has righteous statutes and laws, such as that which is found throughout this Torah, which I place before you this day? | ืึผืฉึฐืืึทืจึฐืชึถึผืึฎ ืึทืขึฒืฉึดืืืชึถืึ ืึดึผึฃื ืึดึคืื ืืืึฐืึทืชึฐืึถืึ ืึผืึดึฃืื ึทืชึฐืึถึื ืึฐืขึตืื ึตึื ืึธืขึทืึดึผึืื ืึฒืฉึถืึฃืจ ืึดืฉึฐืืึฐืขึืึผื ืึตึืช ืืึผืึพืึทืึปืงึดึผึฃืื ืึธืึตึืึถึผื ืึฐืึธืึฐืจึืึผ ืจึทึืง ืขึทืึพืึธืึธึฃื ืึฐื ึธืึืึนื ืึทืึผึฅืึนื ืึทืึธึผืึืึนื ืึทืึถึผึฝืื ืึดึผึื ืึดืึพืึฃืึนื ืึธึผืึืึนื ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืึฅืึน ืึฑืึนืึดึืื ืงึฐืจึนืึดึฃืื ืึตืึธึืื ืึทึผืืึนืึธึฃื ืึฑืึนืงึตืื ืึผ ืึฐึผืืืึพืงืืจึฐืึตึื ืึผ ืึตืึธึฝืืื ืึผืึดืึ ืึผึฃืึนื ืึธึผืึืึนื ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืึืึน ืึปืงึดึผึฅืื ืึผืึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผืึดึืื ืฆึทืึดึผืืงึดึื ืึฐึผืึนืึ ืึทืชึผืึนืจึธึฃื ืึทืึนึผึืืช ืึฒืฉึถืึงืจ ืึธื ึนืึดึื ื ึนืชึตึฅื ืึดืคึฐื ึตืืึถึื ืึทืึผึฝืึนืื |
7. Rashi, loc. cit.
| โFor it is proof of your wisdom and understanding, etc,โ: For this reason you will be regarded as wise and understanding in the eyes of the peoples. โRighteous statutes and lawsโ: Proper and acceptable [laws] | ืื ืืื ืืืืชืื ืืืื ืชืื ืืื’. ืึธึผืึนืืช ืชึตึผืึธืฉึฐืืืึผ ืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึผื ึฐืืึนื ึดืื ืึฐืขึตืื ึตื ืึธืขึทืึดึผืื: ืืงืื ืืืฉืคืืื ืฆืืืงื. ืึฒืืึผื ึดืื ืึผืึฐืงึปืึธึผืึดืื: |
II The Opinion of the Sefer HaChinuch: The prohibition on idolatry includes a requirement to believe in Hashem and a prohibition on shituf and intermediaries
8. Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 26 โYou Shall not Have any Other gods Before Meโ, not to believe in any other gods
| And this mitzvah is included in the Seven Mitzvot that all peoples have been commanded. | ืืืืช ืืืฆืื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืข ืืฆืืช ืฉื ืฆืืื ืื ืื ื ืืขืืื ืืืืื. |
9. Rambam, Hilchot Shavuot 11:2, not to combine Hashemโs Name with that of any other god in an oath (Shituf type A)
| It is forbidden to swear an oath combining anything else with His Name. Anyone who combines something else with the name of the Holy One, Blessed is He in an oath will be uprooted from the world. For there is no one else to whom it is fitting to show honor when one takes an oath in His Name other that the One G-d, Blessed be is Name. | ืึฐืึธืกืึผืจ ืึฐืึดืฉึธึผืืึทืข ืึฐึผืึธืึธืจ ืึทืึตืจ ืขึดื ืฉึฐืืืึน. ืึฐืึธื ืึทืึฐืฉึทืืชึตึผืฃ ืึธึผืึธืจ ืึทืึตืจ ืขึดื ืฉึตืื ืึทืงึธึผืืึนืฉื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื ืึดึผืฉึฐืืืึผืขึธื ื ึถืขึฑืงึธืจ ืึดื ืึธืขืึนืึธื. ืฉึถืืึตืื ืฉึธืื ืึดื ืฉึถืืจึธืืึผื ืึทืึฐืึนืง ืืึน ืึธืืึนื ืฉึถืื ึดึผืฉึฐืืึธึผืขึดืื ืึดึผืฉึฐืืืึน ืึถืึธึผื ืึธืึถืึธื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื: |
10. Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 417โbelief in G-d and none else is the most basic belief
| The basis of this mitzvah is well-known, for it is the root of the belief of all people in the world and it is the strong pillar of faith that all wise people rely upon. | ืฉืจืฉ ืืฆืื ืื ืืืืข, ืื ืื ืขืงืจ ืืืื ืช ืื ืื ื ืืขืืื, ืืืื ืืขืืื ืืืืง ืฉืื ืื ืื ืืขืช ืกืืื ืขืืื. |
11. Minchat Chinuch, ibid.โBnei Noach are commanded to believe in Hashem as Jews are, but do not have a separate positive commandment, as Jews do
| All people are commanded regarding this; Bnei Noach are also commanded. However, since the verse states, โHear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is Oneโ, it means that Jews specifically fulfill a positive commandment by believing in G-d, while Bnei Noach do not, and โthe Holy One, Blessed is He, wanted to grant merit to Israel, therefore he expanded the Torah and mitzvot for themโ (Avot 6:X)โฆ | ืืื ื ืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืฆืืืื ืข”ื ืื”ื ืื ืื ืืฆืืื ืขื ืข”ื ืื ืืชืื ืฉืืข ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ื ืืืฉืจืื ืืงืืื ืืฆืืช ืขืฉื ืืื ื”ื ืืจืฆื ืืงื”ื ืืืืืช ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืคืืื ืืจืื ืืื ืชืืจื ืืืฆืืช ืื”ืฉ ืืจืื”ื ืืืฆืื ืฉืืคื ื ืื: |
12. Rambam, Hilchot Avoda Zara 2:1โthe prohibition on intermediaries
| Regarding this, the verse states, โbe careful lest your hearts go astrayโ (Deuteronomy 11:16), meaning, do not make the error of worshipping any other as an intermediary between you and the Creator. | ืึผืึธืขึดื ึฐืึธื ืึทืึถึผื ืฆึดืึธึผื ืึฐืึธืึทืจ (ืืืจืื ืื ืื) “ืึดืฉึธึผืืึฐืจืึผ ืึธืึถื ืคึถึผื ืึดืคึฐืชึถึผื ืึฐืึทืึฐืึถื”. ืึฐึผืืึนืึทืจ ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืชึดึผืึฐึผืขืึผ ืึฐึผืึดืจึฐืืึผืจ ืึทืึตึผื ืึทืขึฒืึนื ืึตืึผืึผ ืึดืึฐืืึนืช ืกึทืจึฐืกืึผืจ ืึตึผืื ึตืืึถื ืึผืึตืื ืึทืึผืึนืจึตื: |
13. Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 26โeven if one concedes that Hashem rules over his other god
| One may not believe in any god other than Hashem alone, as the verse states, โyou shall not have any other gods besides Meโโฆ โฆand even if one acknowledges that the Holy One, Blessed be He, rules over himself and his god, he has still transgressed this commandmentโฆ | ืฉืื ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืชื ื’ ืืืื – ืฉืื ื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืชื ืืฉื ืืชืืจื ืืืื, ืฉื ืืืจ (ืฉืืืช ื ื) ืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืขื ืคื ื ืืืคืืื ืืืื ืฉืืงื”ื ืฉืืื ืขืืื ืืขื ืืืืืชื, ืขืืืจ ืขื ืื ืืืื |
III The Opinion of Rambam: Shituf is a form of idolatry; Bnei Noach are required to believe in Hashem in order to fulfill the Sheva Mitzvot; belief in Hashemโs non-corporeality is a necessary aspect of Emunah; any belief in โgod incarnateโ is heresy
14. Rambam, Hilchot Avodat Zara 9:4โthe Christians are idolators
| The Christians are idol worshippers, and Sunday is their day of worship. Therefore it is forbidden to transact business with them in Eretz Yisrael on Thursday and Friday of any week, and it goes without saying on Sunday itself, which is forbidden in all places. This applies on any of their festivals. | ืื ืืฆืจืื ืขืข”ื ืึตื ืึฐืืึนื ืจึดืืฉืืึนื ืืึผื ืืึนื ืึตืืึธื. ืึฐืคึดืืึธืึฐ ืึธืกืึผืจ ืึธืชึตืช ืึฐืึธืฉึตืืืช ืขึดืึธึผืึถื ืึฐึผืึถืจึถืฅ ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืืึนื ืึฒืึดืืฉึดืื ืึฐืืึนื ืฉึดืืฉึดึผืื ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึธื ืฉึทืืึธึผืช ืึฐืฉึทืืึธึผืช ืึฐืึตืื ืฆึธืจึดืืึฐ ืืึนืึทืจ ืืึนื ืจึดืืฉืืึนื ืขึทืฆึฐืืึน ืฉึถืืืึผื ืึธืกืึผืจ ืึฐึผืึธื ืึธืงืึนื. ืึฐืึตื ื ืึนืึฒืึดืื ืขึดืึธึผืึถื ืึฐึผืึธื ืึตืืึตืืึถื: |
15. Chazon Ish, Yoreh Deโah 19:21โworshipping a created being constitutes idolatry
| Included in this is anyone who worships a created being, and the Christians worship that man. | ืืืื ืื ืื ืืขืืื ืื ืคืฉ ื ืืจื, ืืื ืืฆืจืื ืืจื ืขืืืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืฉ |
16. Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 3:7โthe heresy of believing that G-d has a physical form
| There are five types of people who are considered hereticsโฆ โฆand one who says that there is one G-d, but he has a body and form. | ืึฒืึดืฉึธึผืื ืึตื ืึทื ึดึผืงึฐืจึธืึดืื ืึดืื ึดืืโฆ โฆืึฐืึธืืึนืึตืจ ืฉึถืืึตึผืฉื ืฉึธืื ืจึดืึผืึนื ืึถืึธื ืึฒืึธื ืฉึถืืืึผื ืึผืึผืฃ ืึผืึทืขึทื ืชึฐึผืืึผื ึธื. |
17. Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 1:7โthe unity of G-d
| This G-d is one. He is not two or more, but one, unified in a manner which [surpasses] any unity that is found in the world; i.e., He is not one in the manner of a general category which includes many individual entities, nor one in the way that the body is divided into different portions and dimensions. Rather, He is unified, and there exists no unity similar to His in this world. If there were many gods, they would have body and form, because like entities are separated from each other only through the circumstances associated with body and form. Were the Creator to have body and form, He would have limitation and definition, because it is impossible for a body not to be limited. And any entity which itself is limited and defined [possesses] only limited and defined power. Since our God, blessed be His name, possesses unlimited power, as evidenced by the continuous revolution of the sphere, we see that His power is not the power of a body. Since He is not a body, the circumstances associated with bodies that produce division and separation are not relevant to Him. Therefore, it is impossible for Him to be anything other than one. The knowledge of this concept fulfills a positive commandment, as [implied by Deuteronomy 6:4]: “[Hear, Israel,] G-d is our L-rd, G-d is one.” (Translation by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger) | ืึฑ-ืืึนืึทึผ ืึถื ืึถืึธื ืืึผื ืึฐืึตืื ืึน ืฉึฐืื ึทืึดื ืึฐืึนื ืึถืชึถืจ ืขึทื ืฉึฐืื ึทืึดื. ืึถืึธึผื ืึถืึธื. ืฉึถืืึตืื ืึฐึผืึดืืึผืืึน ืึถืึธื ืึดื ืึธืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึทื ึดึผืึฐืฆึธืึดืื ืึธึผืขืึนืึธื. ืึนื ืึถืึธื ืึฐึผืึดืื ืฉึถืืืึผื ืึผืึนืึตื ืึฒืึธืึดืื ืึทืจึฐืึตึผื. ืึฐืึนื ืึถืึธื ืึฐึผืืึผืฃ ืฉึถืืืึผื ื ึถืึฐืึธืง ืึฐืึทืึฐืึธืงืึนืช ืึฐืึดืงึฐืฆึธืืึนืช. ืึถืึธึผื ืึดืืึผื ืฉึถืืึตืื ืึดืืึผื ืึทืึตืจ ืึฐึผืืึนืชืึน ืึธึผืขืึนืึธื. ืึดืึผืึผ ืึธืืึผ ืึฑืึนืืึผืช ืึทืจึฐืึตึผื ืึธืืึผ ืึผืึผืคึดืื ืึผืึฐืึดืึผืึนืช. ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืฉึถืืึตืื ืึทื ึดึผืึฐื ึดืื ืึทืฉึธึผืืึดืื ืึดึผืึฐืฆึดืืืึผืชึธื ื ึดืคึฐืจึธืึดืื ืึถื ืึดืึถึผื ืึถืึธึผื ืึดึผืึฐืึนืจึธืขึดืื ืฉึถืืึถึผืึถืจึฐืขืึผ ืึทึผืึผืึผืคืึนืช ืึฐืึทืึฐึผืึดืึผืึนืช. ืึฐืึดืึผืึผ ืึธืึธื ืึทืึผืึนืฆึตืจ ืึผืึผืฃ ืึผืึฐืึดืึธึผื ืึธืึธื ืืึน ืงึตืฅ ืึฐืชึทืึฐืึดืืช ืฉึถืืึดื ืึถืคึฐืฉึธืืจ ืึดืึฐืืึนืช ืึผืึผืฃ ืฉึถืืึตืื ืืึน ืงึตืฅ. ืึฐืึธื ืฉึถืืึตึผืฉื ืึฐืืึผืคืึน ืงึตืฅ ืึฐืชึทืึฐืึดืืช ืึตืฉื ืึฐืึนืืึน ืงึตืฅ ืึธืกืึนืฃ. ืึตืืึนืึตืื ืึผ ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืฉึฐืืืึน ืืึนืึดืื ืึฐืึนืืึน ืึตืื ืืึน ืงึตืฅ ืึฐืึตืื ืึน ืคึผืึนืกึตืง ืฉึถืืึฒืจึตื ืึทืึทึผืึฐืึทึผื ืกืึนืึตื ืชึธึผืึดืื. ืึตืื ืึนึผืืึน ืึนึผืึท ืึผืึผืฃ. ืึฐืืึนืึดืื ืึฐืึตืื ืึน ืึผืึผืฃ ืึนื ืึถืึถืจึฐืขืึผ ืืึน ืึฐืึนืจึฐืขืึนืช ืึทืึผืึผืคืึนืช ืึฐึผืึตื ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึตื ื ึถืึฐืึธืง ืึฐื ึดืคึฐืจึธื ืึตืึทืึตืจ. ืึฐืคึดืืึธืึฐ ืึดื ืึถืคึฐืฉึธืืจ ืฉึถืืึดึผืึฐืึถื ืึถืึธึผื ืึถืึธื. |
IV A Question Arising from the Rambamโs ruling in Hilchot Issurei Biโah: Why is it necessary to teach a potential convert faith fundamentals if even as a non-Jew he is required to know and believe these things?
18. Rambam, Hilchot Issurei Biโah 14:2โwhat to teach a person who wants to convert to Judaism
| โฆand we inform him about the fundamentals of the religion, which are the unity of Hashem and the prohibition against idolatry, and we elaborate on these. | ืึผืืึนืึดืืขึดืื ืืึนืชืึน ืขึดืงึฐึผืจึตื ืึทืึธึผืช ืฉึถืืืึผื ืึดืืึผื ืึทืฉึตึผืื ืึฐืึดืกึผืึผืจ ืขึทืึผืึผ”ื. ืึผืึทืึฒืจึดืืึดืื ืึทึผืึธึผืึธืจ ืึทืึถึผื. |
V Belief that the Torah is from G-d and in the prophecy of Moses: according to Hilchot Melachim 8:11, a necessary part of faith
VI Belief in all Fundamentals of the Jewish Faith: the pious of the nations have a share in the world to comeโconditionally
19. Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 3:5โpeople who have no share in the World to Come
| These are people who have no share in the World to Come, but rather are cut off and lost, judged by the greatness of their wickedness and sins forever and ever: heretics, those who deny the possibility of prophecy, those who do not believe that the Torah is from Hashem, those who deny the fact of the resurrection of the dead and the coming of the redeemerโฆ | ืึฐืึตืึผืึผ ืึตื ืฉึถืืึตืื ืึธืึถื ืึตืึถืง ืึธืขืึนืึธื ืึทืึธึผื ืึถืึธึผื ื ึดืึฐืจึธืชึดืื ืึฐืืึนืึฐืึดืื ืึฐื ึดืึผืึนื ึดืื ืขึทื ืึนึผืึถื ืจึดืฉึฐืืขึธื ืึฐืึทืึธึผืืชึธื ืึฐืขืึนืึธื ืึผืึฐืขืึนืึฐืึตื ืขืึนืึธืึดืื. ืึทืึดึผืื ึดืื. ืึฐืึธืึถืคึดึผืืงืึนืจืึนืกึดืื. ืึฐืึทืึผืึนืคึฐืจึดืื ืึทึผืชึผืึนืจึธื. ืึฐืึทืึผืึนืคึฐืจึดืื ืึดึผืชึฐืึดืึทึผืช ืึทืึตึผืชึดืื ืึผืึฐืึดืืึทืช ืึทืึผืึนืึตื. |
20 Ibid., 5, 8โapikorsim and kofrim
| The pious among the nations have a share in the World to Come. These are considered apikorsim: one who says that there is no prophecy and no way for communication to take place between the Creator and the heart of a person; one who denies the prophecy of Moses; and one who says that the Creator is unaware of peoplesโ actions. Each of these three is an apikoros. These are considered deniers of the Torah: one who says that the Torah is not from Hashem, even one verse, or one wordโif he claims that Moses said it of his own accord, he is a kofer; one who denies the Torahโs explanation, meaning, the Oral Law, and who denies the authority of its representatives, as Tzadok and Baytus did; one who claims that the Creator exchanged one mitzvah for another, and that the original Torah has been nullified, even though it was given by Hashem (such as the Christians and the Arabs claim). | ืืกืืื ืืืืืช ืืขืืื, ืืฉ ืืื ืืืง ืืขืืื ืืื. ืฉืืฉื ืื ืื ืงืจืืื ืืคืืงืืจืกืื:* ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืข ืฉืืืืข ืืืืืจื ืืื ืื ื ืืืื, * ืืืืืืืฉ ื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืืฉื ืจืืื ื, * ืืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืข ืืขืฉื ืื ื ืืืื.ืื ืืื ืืฉืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืคืืงืืจืืกืื.ืฉืืืฉื ืื ืืืืคืจืื ืืชืืจื:* ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืชืืจื ืืขื ื’, ืืคืืื ืคืกืืง ืืื, ืืคืืื ืชืืื ืืืช, ืื ืืืจ ืืฉื ืืืจื ืืคื ืขืฆืื, ืืจื ืื ืืืคืจ ืืชืืจื, * ืืื ืืืืคืจ ืืคืจืืฉื ืืืื ืชืืจื ืฉืืขื ืคื, ืืืืืืืฉ ืืืืืื, ืืืื ืฆืืืง ืืืืืชืืก, * ืืืืืืจ ืฉืืืืจื ืืืืืฃ ืืฆืื ืื ืืืฆืื ืืืจืช, ืืืืจ ืืืื ืชืืจื ืื ืืข”ืค ืฉืืื ืืืชื ืืขื ื’, ืืืื ืืืืจืื.ืื ืืื ืืฉืืฉื ืืื ืืืคืจ ืืชืืจื. |
By Rabbi Tani Burton
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