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Home ยป CAN NOAHIDES OBSERVE SHABBAT?

CAN NOAHIDES OBSERVE SHABBAT?

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  1. The Holiness of Shabbat
The heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day G-d finished the work that He had undertaken: [G-d] ceased on the seventh day from doing any of the work. And G-d blessed the seventh day and declared it holyโ€”having ceased on it from all the work of creation that G-d had done.ื•ึทื™ึฐื›ึปืœึผึ›ื•ึผ ื”ึทืฉึธึผืืžึทึฅื™ึดื ื•ึฐื”ึธืึธึ–ืจึถืฅ ื•ึฐื›ึธืœึพืฆึฐื‘ึธืึธึฝืืƒ ื•ึทื™ึฐื›ึทึคืœ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ืึ™ ื‘ึทึผื™ึผึฃื•ึนื ื”ึทืฉึฐึผืื‘ึดื™ืขึดึ”ื™ ืžึฐืœึทืื›ึฐืชึผึ–ื•ึน ืึฒืฉึถืึฃืจ ืขึธืฉึธื‚ึ‘ื” ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึฐืื‘ึนึผืชึ™ ื‘ึทึผื™ึผึฃื•ึนื ื”ึทืฉึฐึผืื‘ึดื™ืขึดึ”ื™ ืžึดื›ึธึผืœึพืžึฐืœึทืื›ึฐืชึผึ–ื•ึน ืึฒืฉึถืึฅืจ ืขึธืฉึธึฝื‚ื”ืƒ ื•ึทื™ึฐื‘ึธึคืจึถืšึฐ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ืึ™ ืึถืชึพื™ึฃื•ึนื ื”ึทืฉึฐึผืื‘ึดื™ืขึดึ”ื™ ื•ึทื™ึฐืงึทื“ึตึผึ–ืฉื ืึนืชึ‘ื•ึน ื›ึดึผึฃื™ ื‘ึคื•ึน ืฉึธืื‘ึทืชึ™ ืžึดื›ึธึผืœึพืžึฐืœึทืื›ึฐืชึผึ”ื•ึน ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื‘ึธึผืจึธึฅื ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ–ื™ื ืœึทืขึฒืฉึฝื‚ื•ึนืชืƒ  

II. The Unique Relationship of Bnei Yisrael to Shabbat

  1. Exodus 31:13
And you, speak to the Children of Israel saying, nevertheless you will guard My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and your children, for your generations, to know that I, Hashem, have sanctified you.ื•ึฐืึทืชึธึผึžื” ื“ึทึผื‘ึตึผึจืจ ืึถืœึพื‘ึฐึผื ึตึคื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœึ™ ืœึตืืžึนึ”ืจ ืึทึฅืšึฐ ืึถืชึพืฉึทืื‘ึฐึผืชึนืชึทึ–ื™ ืชึดึผืฉึฐืืžึนึ‘ืจื•ึผ ื›ึดึผื™ึฉ ืึจื•ึนืช ื”ึดึœื•ื ื‘ึตึผื™ื ึดึคื™ ื•ึผื‘ึตึฝื™ื ึตื™ื›ึถืึ™ ืœึฐื“ึนืจึนึฃืชึตื™ื›ึถึ”ื ืœึธื“ึทึ•ืขึทืช ื›ึดึผึ›ื™ ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืžึฐืงึทื“ึดึผืฉึฐืื›ึถึฝืืƒ  

2. Rashi, loc.cit.

You, despite the fact that I have appointed you to command them concerning the building of the Mishkan, not let it be a light matter to push off the Sabbath on account of the work.ื•ืืชื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื•ึฐืึทืชึธึผื” ืึทืขึท”ืคึดึผ ืฉึถืื”ึดืคึฐืงึทื“ึฐืชึดึผื™ืšึธ ืœึฐืฆึทื•ึผื•ึนืชึธื ืขึทืœ ืžึฐืœึถืื›ึถืช ื”ึทืžึดึผืฉึฐืื›ึธึผืŸ, ืึทืœ ื™ึตืงึทืœ ื‘ึฐึผืขึตื™ื ึถื™ืšึธ ืœึดื“ึฐื—ื•ึนืช ืึถืช ื”ึทืฉึทึผืื‘ึธึผืช ืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืžึฐืœึธืื›ึธื”:

3. Rashi, loc. cit.

It is a great sign between us, for I have chosen you by letting you inherit the day of rest, upon which I rested.ื›ื™ ืื•ืช ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื ื™ ื•ื‘ื™ื ื™ื›ื. ืื•ึนืช ื’ึฐึผื“ึปืœึธึผื” ื”ึดื™ื ื‘ึตื™ื ึตื™ื ื•ึผ, ืฉึถืื‘ึธึผื—ึทืจึฐืชึดึผื™ ื‘ึธื›ึถื ื‘ึฐึผื”ึทื ึฐื—ึดื™ืœึดื™ ืœึธื›ึถื ืึถืช ื™ื•ึนื ืžึฐื ื•ึผื—ึธืชึดื™ ืœึดืžึฐื ื•ึผื—ึธื”:

III. The Prohibition on Sabbath Observance for Gentiles

4. Sanhedrin 58b

And Reish Lakish says, โ€œa non-Jew who observes the Shabbat is liable to the death penalty, as the verse states (Genesis 8:22), โ€˜and day and night [they] will not restโ€™โ€. Mar said, โ€œtheir prohibition is their deathโ€, i.e., death is the standard penalty for transgression of Noahide laws. Ravina said, โ€œeven if he made the second day of the week Shabbatโ€. Objection: But if so, it should have been counted amongst the Seven Mitzvot! Resolution: The Seven Mitzvot only include negative commandments; positive commandments are not included.ื•ืืจ”ืœ ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืฉืฉื‘ืช ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื ื’ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื—, ื›ื‘) ื•ื™ื•ื ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื•ืชื• ื•ืืžืจ ืžืจ ืื–ื”ืจื” ืฉืœื”ืŸ ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ืžื™ืชืชืŸ ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ื ื ืืคื™’ ืฉื ื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ื•ืœื™ื—ืฉื‘ื” ื’ื‘ื™ ื–’ ืžืฆื•ืช ื›ื™ ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืฉื‘ ื•ืืœ ืชืขืฉื” ืงื•ื ืขืฉื” ืœื ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘  

IV. Concept #1: Rashi, the complete prohibition on rest

5. Rashi, loc. cit.

โ€œA non-Jew who โ€˜restsโ€™โ€โ€”from his melacha for an entire day is liable to the death penalty, as the verse states (Genesis 8:22), โ€˜and day and night [they] will not restโ€, and this is homiletically understood to refer to abstinence from melacha (productive work), and therefore applies to people. Do not ask: but โ€œ[they] will not restโ€ refers only to the six seasons mentioned in the verse, meaning that the natural cycle of seasons will not be nullified and will not cease to be! For what we are learning from this passage is that the verse also applies to people.ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™’ ืฉืฉื‘ืช – ืžืžืœืื›ืชื• ื™ื•ื ืฉืœื ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื ื’ ื™ื•ื ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื•ืชื• ื•ืงื ื“ืจื™ืฉ ืœื™ื” ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื•ืชื• ืžืžืœืื›ื” ื“ืื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื ืžื™ ืงืื™ ื•ืœื ืชื™ืžื ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื•ืชื• ืื”ืš ืฉืฉืช ืขืชื™ื ื“ืงืจื ืงืื™ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืœื ื™ื‘ื˜ืœื• ื•ืœื ื™ืคืกืงื• ืžืœื”ื™ื•ืช: ืคืฉื™ื˜ื ืœื ื’ืจืกื™’ ื“ื”ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื ืงืž”ืœ ื“ืื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืงืื™:  

6. Rashi, loc. cit.

Ravina said, โ€œeven if he made the second day of the week Shabbatโ€โ€”Do not say: the โ€œsabbathโ€ that Reish Lakish is speaking about is where he is resting out of a perceived religious obligation, like observing a โ€œsabbathโ€ on Shabbat, which is the sabbath for Israel, or on Sunday, when the Christians observe a โ€œsabbathโ€. Rather, rest in general is prohibited to Gentiles; they may not refrain from productive activity, even on a day which is not designated as a sabbath. In fact, [Ravina said,] โ€œthe second day of the weekโ€ because it is the first day of the week that is not a designated sabbatical day, and this can also apply to the third and fourth days.ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ื ื ืืคื™’ ืฉื ื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช – ืœื ืชื™ืžื ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ื“ืงืืžืจ ืจ”ืœ ืœืฉื•ื ื—ื•ื‘ื” ืงืืžืจ ื“ืœื ืœื›ื•ื•ืŸ ืœืฉื‘ื•ืช ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื• ืื—ื“ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืฉืฉื•ื‘ืชื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื”ื ื•ืฆืจื™ื ืืœื ืžื ื•ื—ื” ื‘ืขืœืžื ืงื ืืกืจ ืœื”ื• ืฉืœื ื™ื‘ื˜ืœื• ืžืžืœืื›ื” ื•ืืคื™’ ื™ื•ื ืฉืื™ื ื• ื‘ืจ ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ืฉื ื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ื™ื•ืžื ืงืžื ื“ืœืื• ื™ื•ื ื‘ืจ ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ื ืงื˜ ื•ื””ื” ื“ื”ื•ื” ืžืฆื™ ืœืžื™ื ืงื˜ ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื•ืจื‘ื™ืขื™:  

7. Torah Temimah on Genesis 8:22:17

It appears to me that Rashiโ€™s reasoning goes accord to the Midrash (Rabbah, Chapter 25), that during the Flood, the constellations did not cease functioning, nor did the natural world change. And if so, it is impossible to read the verse as applying to the seasons or the constellations, since even until today they have not โ€œrestedโ€. Therefore, the verse is explained as referring to people. In other words, that they should not refrain from melacha, no matter the time or season. But the reason for this mitzvah has not been explained at all, nor the punishment of death for it. Perhaps it can be explained according to that which is written in Avot dโ€™Rabbi Natan, chapter 11, on the verse, โ€œsix days you shall work and perform all of your melachaโ€. What does the verse teach us when it says, โ€œall of your melachaโ€ after it has stated that โ€œsix days you shall workโ€? It includes a person who owns courtyards or fields that are in a state of ruin, and implies that he should go and work in them, for a person only dies through idleness. And the explanation is simple: if idleness causes a person to die before his time, even if a person does not have specific work demands, he should nevertheless try to find for himself some productive work, even if it is not immediately necessary just to make sure that he does not become idle and die. And it is important to have the verse in mind that states, โ€œproductive work gives life to its ownerโ€โ€”because it truly does give life. According to this, we can say that the reason why the Holy One, Blessed is He, commanded man to work, is to insure that he does not cause his own death. It follows that the expression, โ€œliable for deathโ€ implies, โ€œhas forfeited his soulโ€. And despite the fact that it would be logical that this should apply, not only to Gentiles, but to Jews as well, we could say that a Jew can busy himself with Torah learning and prayer during his rest. This is not the case for a non-Jew, who, if he engages in intensive Torah learning, he is liable to the death penalty. His engagement in Torah learning as it pertains to his Seven Mitzvot is relatively shorter and easier. Therefore, he has no other option than to involve himself in productive workโ€”although perhaps the explanation from Avot dโ€™Rabbi Natan is referring to an unlearned person who is not capable of engaging in deep Torah study. And still, more study is needed to understand what the Rambam wrote (Hilchot Melachim 9:9), that this law only applies where a non-Jew has refrained from melacha to fulfill a โ€œmitzvahโ€ of sabbatical rest that he has created for himself like Shabbatโ€”that only in such a case is he liable to the death penalty. Yet, according to what we have said, his intention should not make a difference. But it can also be said that any time he is not resting according to the parameters of a Shabbat type of rest, a full observance of Shabbat, he is not truly refraining from melacha, since he is involved in certain activities of productivity, such as food preparation, cooking, and we need not elaborate further.*ืคื™ืจืฉ”ื™ ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืฉืฉื‘ืช ืžืžืœืื›ืชื• ื™ื•ื ืฉืœื ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื•ื ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ืชื•, ื•ื“ืจื™ืฉ ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ืชื• ืžืžืœืื›ื” ื“ืื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื ืžื™ ืงืื™, ื•ืœื ืชื™ืžื ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ืชื• ืื”ื ืš ืฉืฉืช ืขืชื™ื ื“ืงืจื ืงืื™ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืœื ื™ื‘ื˜ืœื• ื•ืœื ื™ืคืกืงื• ืžืœื”ื™ื•ืช, ืขื›”ืœ. ื•ืœื ืคื™ืจืฉ ื”ื˜ืขื ืœืžื” ื‘ืืžืช ืœื ื ืืžืจ ื“ืงืจื ืงืื™ ืืฉืฉืช ืขืชื™ื ื•ืœื ืืื“ื, ื•ื ืจืื” ื“ืก”ืœ ื›ืž”ื“ ื‘ืž”ืจ (ืค’ ื›”ื”) ื“ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ืœื ืฉื‘ืชื• ื”ืžื–ืœื•ืช ื•ืœื ื ืฉืชื ื• ืกื“ืจื™ ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช, ื•ื”ื› ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืœืคืจืฉ ื“ืงืื™ ืขืœ ื”ืขืชื™ื ื•ืขืœ ื”ืžื–ืœื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื’ื ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ืœื ืฉื‘ืชื•, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืคื™ืจืฉ ื“ืงืื™ ืืื“ื, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืขืชื™ื ื•ื”ื–ืžื ื™ื ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ืชื• ืžืžืœืื›ื”. โ€“
ื•ื”ื ื” ืœื ื ืชื‘ืืจ ื‘ื›ืœืœ ื˜ืขื ืžืฆื•ื” ื–ื• ื•ื”ืขื•ื ืฉ ืžื™ืชื” ืขืœ ื–ื”, ื•ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืชื‘ืืจ ืข”ืค ืž”ื“ ื‘ืื“ืจ”ื  ืค’ ื™”ื ืขืœ ื”ืคืกื•ืง ืฉืฉืช ื™ืžื™ื ืชืขื‘ื•ื“ ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ืชืš, ืžื” ืช”ืœ ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ืชืš [ืจ”ืœ ืื—ืจ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืฉืฉืช ื™ืžื™ื ืชืขื‘ื•ื“] ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ืžื™ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ื—ืฆืจื•ืช ืื• ืฉื“ื•ืช ื—ืจื‘ื•ืช ื™ืœืš ื•ื™ืขืกื•ืง ื‘ื”ื, ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืื“ื ืžืช ืืœื ืžืชื•ืš ื”ื‘ื˜ืœื”, ืข”ื›, ื•ื”ื‘ืื•ืจ ืคืฉื•ื˜ ื“ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื‘ื˜ืœื” ื’ื•ืจืžืช ืžื™ืชื” ืœืื“ื ืงื•ื“ื ื–ืžื ื•, ืœื›ืŸ ืืข”ืค ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืœืื“ื ืžืœืื›ื” ื”ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœื•, ื‘ื›”ื– ื™ืฉืชื“ืœ ืœื”ืžืฆื™ื ืœื• ืื™ื–ื• ืžืœืื›ื” ืฉื”ื™ื ืืฃ ืฉืื™ื ื” ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœื’ื•ืคื” ืขืชื”, ื•ืจืง ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ืœืš ื‘ื˜ืœ ื•ืœื ื™ืžื•ืช, ื•ื™ืฉ ืœื›ื•ื™ืŸ ืข”ืค ื–ื” ื”ืžืืžืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืžืœืื›ื” ืฉืžื—ื™ื” ืืช ื‘ืขืœื™ื” โ€“ ืžื—ื™ื” ืžืžืฉ.
ื•ืœืคื™ ื–ื” ื™”ืœ ื‘ื˜ืขื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืฆื•ื” ื”ืงื‘”ื” ืขืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืื“ื ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ื’ืจื•ื ืœืขืฆืžื• ืžื™ืชื”, ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืคื™”ื– ื‘ืื•ืจ ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืžืขื™ืŸ ื›ื•ื ืช ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืžืชื—ื™ื™ื‘ ื‘ื ืคืฉื•.
ื•ืืข”ืค ื“ืœืคื™”ื– ื”ื™’ ืžืŸ ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ืฉืœืื• ื“ื•ืงื ื‘ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืืœื ื’ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ื”ื™’ ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ื›ืŸ, ื™”ืœ ื“ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœืขืกื•ืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื‘ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื‘ืขืช ืฉื‘ื™ืชืชื•, ืžืฉื”ื› ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ื”ืขื•ืกืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื”ื™’ ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” [ืข’ ืœืคื ื™ื ื• ื‘ืจ”ืค ื‘ืจื›ื” ืชื•ืจื” ืฆื•ื” ืœื ื• ื•ื’ื•’ ], ื•ื”ืขืกืง ื‘ืฉื‘ืข ืžืฆื•ืช ื“ื™ื“ื”ื• ืžื•ืขื˜ ื•ืงืœ, ื”ื› ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื“ืจืš ืื—ืจืช ืœื”ืชืขืกืง ื›ื™ ืื ื‘ืžืœืื›ื”, ื•ื”ืžืืžืจ ื‘ืื“ืจ”ื  ืื•ืœื™ ืื™ื™ืจื™ ื‘ืื™ืฉ ื”ืžื•ื ื™ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืžืกื•ื’ืœ ืœืขืกืง ื”ืชื•ืจื”.
ื•ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืฆ”ืข ื‘ืžืฉ”ื› ื”ืจืžื‘”ื ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื‘ืค”ื˜ ื””ื˜ ืžืžืœื›ื™ื ื“ื“ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืจืง ืื ืฉื‘ืช ืœืฉื ืžืฆื•ืช ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ืฉืขืฉืื• ืœืขืฆืžื• ื›ืžื• ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ืช, ื•ืจืง ืื– ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื”, ื•ืœืคื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื• ื”ืœื ืื™ืŸ ื ”ืž ืœื›ืื•ืจื” ื‘ืื™ื–ื• ื›ื•ื ื” ืฉื•ื‘ืช, ื•ื™ืฉ ืœื™ื™ืฉื‘ ื“ื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืฉื•ื‘ืช ื›ืฉื‘ื™ืชืช ื”ืฉื‘ืช, ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ืฉืœืžื”, ืื™ื ื• ื‘ื˜ืœ ืžืžืฉ ืžืžืœืื›ื”, ื“ื”ืœื ืขื•ืกืง ื”ื•ื ื‘ืžืœืื›ื•ืช ืงืœื•ืช ื•ื‘ืฆืจื›ื™ ืื•ื›ืœ ื ืคืฉ, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื”ืืจื™ืš ืขื•ื“. .  

V. Concept #2: Rambamโ€”Creating a New Religion

8. Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 10:9

A Gentile who engages in Torah study is liable to the death penalty. He should only study the Seven Mitzvot [of Bโ€™nei Noach]. Similarly, a Gentile who rests, even on another day of the week, in the sense that he has made this a sabbath for himself, is liable to the death penalty. It goes without saying that this is especially true if he has made that day a moโ€™ed for himself. The general rule is that we do not allow them to create a new religion and to invent mitzvot for themselves from their intellects. Rather, let him become a righteous convert and accept upon himself all of the mitzvot or stay with his Torah [the Seven Mitzvot] without adding or subtracting anything. And if he engages in Torah study or invents new religious behaviors, we give him corporal punishment, penalize him and inform him that he is liable to the death penalty for this, although he is not executed.ืขึทื›ึผื•ึผ”ื ืฉึถืืขึธืกึทืง ื‘ึทึผืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ื—ึทื™ึธึผื‘ ืžึดื™ืชึธื”. ืœึนื ื™ึทืขึฒืกึนืง ืึถืœึธึผื ื‘ึฐึผืฉึถืื‘ึทืข ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึนืช ืฉึถืืœึธึผื”ึถืŸ ื‘ึดึผืœึฐื‘ึทื“. ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืขึทื›ึผื•ึผ”ื ืฉึถืืฉึธึผืื‘ึทืช ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ื‘ึฐึผื™ื•ึนื ืžึดื™ืžื•ึนืช ื”ึทื—ืœ ืึดื ืขึฒืฉึธื‚ืึธื”ื•ึผ ืœึฐืขึทืฆึฐืžื•ึน ื›ึฐึผืžื•ึน ืฉึทืื‘ึธึผืช ื—ึทื™ึธึผื‘ ืžึดื™ืชึธื”. ื•ึฐืึตื™ืŸ ืฆึธืจึดื™ืšึฐ ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ ืึดื ืขึธืฉึธื‚ื” ืžื•ึนืขึตื“ ืœึฐืขึทืฆึฐืžื•ึน. ื›ึฐึผืœึธืœื•ึน ืฉึถืืœ ื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ ืึตื™ืŸ ืžึฐื ึดื™ื—ึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชึธืŸ ืœึฐื—ึทื“ึตึผืฉื ื“ึธึผืช ื•ึฐืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึนืช ืœึฐืขึทืฆึฐืžึธืŸ ืžึดื“ึทึผืขึฐืชึธึผืŸ. ืึถืœึธึผื ืื•ึน ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึถื” ื’ึตึผืจ ืฆึถื“ึถืง ื•ึดื™ืงึทื‘ึตึผืœ ื›ึธึผืœ ื”ึทืžึดึผืฆึฐื•ึนืช. ืื•ึน ื™ึทืขึฒืžึนื“ ื‘ึฐึผืชื•ึนืจึธืชื•ึน ื•ึฐืœึนื ื™ื•ึนืกึดื™ืฃ ื•ึฐืœึนื ื™ึดื’ึฐืจึทืข. ื•ึฐืึดื ืขึธืกึทืง ื‘ึทึผืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ืื•ึน ืฉึธืื‘ึทืช ืื•ึน ื—ึดื“ึตึผืฉื ื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ. ืžึทื›ึดึผื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ื•ึฐืขื•ึนื ึฐืฉึดืื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ื•ึผืžื•ึนื“ึดื™ืขึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ื—ึทื™ึธึผื‘ ืžึดื™ืชึธื” ืขึทืœ ื–ึถื”. ืึฒื‘ึธืœ ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื ึถื”ึฑืจึธื’:  

9. Lechem Mishna, loc.cit.

It appears to me that the Rambamโ€™s reasoning is based on that which is written [in Tractate Sanhedrin], that such a person is not actually executed, because the question was asked [Tosefot], โ€œthere is nothing that is permitted to a Jew that is forbidden to a Non-Jewโ€, for there are the cases of a Non-Jew who observes the Sabbath or who learns Torah. In such cases, it is a mitzvah for a Jew, and prohibited to a Non-Jew. Tosefot stated that the aforementioned principle of ืœื™ืช ืžื“ืขื does not apply where it is a mitzvah for Jews. But the Rambamโ€™s opinion is exactly the oppositeโ€”where it is not only permitted to a Jew, but is a mitzvah, there is no reason a Non-Jew would be prohibited or liable for the death penalty because of it. Therefore, the Rambam explains that the liability is Rabbinic in nature, based on a prooftext, not a full warningโ€”for there is no such thing as a Biblical prohibition for a Non-Jew where something is permitted to a Jew, as Chazal have stated, โ€œthere is nothing that is permitted to a Jew that is forbidden to a Gentileโ€, i.e. Biblically. Now, with regard to the objection raised in the Gemara, โ€œlet it be counted as one of the Seven Mitzvotโ€, this specifically refers to the prohibitive aspect of what is listed in the Seven Mitzvot, as the Kesef Mishna notes. And since this โ€œdeath penaltyโ€ that is mentioned here is Rabbinic, it follows that all โ€œdeath penaltiesโ€ mentioned in this section of the Gemara are Rabbinic.ืขื›ื•”ื ืฉืขื•ืกืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื›ื•‘. ื ”ืœ ื˜ืขื ืœืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื‘ืž”ืฉ ื“ืื™ืŸ ื ื”ืจื’ ืขืœื™ื” ืžืฉื•ื ื“ื”ื•ืงืฉื” ืœื• ืžื” ืฉืืžืจื• ื‘ืคืจืง ื“’ ืžื™ืชื•ืช ืœื™ื›ื ืžื™ื“ืขื ื“ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืจื™ ื•ืœืขื›ื•”ื ืืกื•ืจ ื“ื”ื ืื™ื›ื ืขื›ื•”ื ืฉืฉื‘ืช ื•ืขื›ื•”ื ืฉืขื•ืกืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื“ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืฆื•ื” ื•ืœืขื›ื•”ื ืืกื•ืจ ื•ื”ืชื•ืก’ ื”ืงืฉื• ืงื•ืฉื™ื ื–ื• ื“ืœื ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื”ื›ื™ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืฆื•ื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื ืจืื” ืœื• ื”ืกื‘ืจื ื‘ื”ืคืš ื“ืื“ืจื‘ื ื“ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื ื“ื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื•ืชืจ ืืœื ืืคื™ืœื• ืžืฆื•ื” ื”ื•ื™ ื”ื› ืœื ื”ื•ื” ืœืŸ ืœืืกื•ืจ ืœืขื›ื•”ื ื‘ื›ืš ื•ืœื—ื™ื™ื‘ื• ืžื™ืชื” ืœื›ืš ืžืคืจืฉ ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื“ื”ืื™ ื—ื™ื•ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืžื“ืจื‘ื ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื•ืงืจื ืืกืžื›ืชื ื‘ืขืœืžื ื“ืœื ื”ื•ื™ ืื–ื”ืจื” ื’ืžื•ืจื” ื“ืื–ื”ืจื” ืžืŸ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœื™ื›ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืจื™ ื•ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ืœื™ื›ื ืžื™ื“ื™ ื“ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืจื™ ื•ืœืขื›ื•”ื ืืกื•ืจ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืื–ื”ืจื” ืžืŸ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืžื” ืฉื”ืงืฉื• ื‘ื’ืžืจื ื“ืœื™ื—ืฉื‘ื” ื’ื‘ื™ ืฉื‘ืข ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื“ื•ืงื ืœืขื ื™ืŸ ืื™ืกื•ืจื ืœื‘ื“ ื•ื›ืž”ืฉ ื”ืจื‘ ื›”ืž ื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ื”ืื™ ื—ื™ื•ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื›ืืŸ ื”ื•ื™ ืžื“ืจื‘ื ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ื ืžื™ ื—ื™ื•ื‘ ืžื™ืชื” ืฉื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ื’ื‘ื™ ืขื›ื•”ื ืฉื”ื›ื” ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ืคื™ ื”ืื™ ื’ื•ื•ื ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื‘ื—ื“ ืœื™ืฉื ื ืื™ืชืžืจื• ื›ืœ ื”ื ื™ ืžื™ืžืจื™ ื—ื“ื ื‘ืชืจ ื—ื‘ืจืชื” ื‘ื”ื”ื™ื ืกื•ื’ื™ื:  

VI. Concept #3: Yad Ramaโ€”Idolatry, Theft, Social Problem of Appearing to Create a New Religion

10. Yad Rama on Sanhedrin 58b-59a

And Reish Lakish said, โ€œa Gentile who refrains from melacha for an entire day, [is liable to the death penalty] etc., as the verse states, โ€˜day and night, they will not ceaseโ€™โ€. And the implication is that this principle also applies to human beings, that they will not refrain from melacha. Then the objection is raised: ืคืฉื™ื˜ื”, โ€œit is obvious!โ€, because the assumption of Ravina is that the gemara is referring to cases where non-Jews might observe a sabbath out of a false, assumed obligation, like the Arabs who cease work on Fridays in the name of their โ€œidolatryโ€, or even a case where a Gentile rests on Shabbat itself, for the sake of Heavenโ€”where, since he is not commanded to do this, it is like theft? [Yet, the gemara is not referring to cases like these and therefore the law is not obvious. Rather,] Ravina is stating that, even where a non-Jew is resting on Tuesday [i.e., not on the Muslim or Christian โ€œsabbathโ€ days], where there is no โ€œobligationโ€, but simply to rest, since he is intentionally ceasing work, he is committing an offense because it appears as if he is establishing a sabbath day for himself, and creating a religion based on his own ideas.   Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam), may he rest in Eden, contextualizes this in his sefer Mishna Torah as actually establishing a sabbath for himself and creating a religion based on his own ideas. But according to his reasoning, the objection of ืคืฉื™ื˜ื assumes the gemara is speaking of a Gentile who ceases from work on the Jewish sabbath, and the objection, โ€œthat is obviousโ€ is raised, because this is definitely a case where a non-Jew kept a sabbath in the name of an idol, meaning that his sabbath-keeping is an expression of his idolatry, meaning that it is an idolatrous practice [and therefore it is obvious that he incurs the death penalty for avoda zara]. And an objection is raised: even on the third day (Tuesday), where he has not established a sabbath day for idolatrous purposes, since he has established it as a rest day, and the verse lo yishbotu is a positive mitzvah to be involved in productive work.   With regard to the objection regarding the mitzvah to establish courts (which is a positive mitzvah and is included in the Sheva Mitzvot), it is resolved by viewing this too as a negative commandment, to not render crooked legal judgements.ื•ืืžืจ ืจื™ืฉ ืœืงื™ืฉ ืขื›ื•”ื ืฉืฉื‘ืช ืžืžืœืื›ื” ื™ื•ื ืฉืœื ื›ื•’ ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื•ื ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื•ืชื• ื•ืžืฉืžืข ืœื™ื” ื ืžื™ ืื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืฉืœื ื™ืฉื‘ืชื• ืžืžืœืื›ื” ื•ืžืชืžื”ื™ื ืŸ ืคืฉื™ื˜ื ื“ืงืก”ื“ ื“ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืชื” ืฉื”ื•ื ืœืฉื ื—ื•ื‘ื” ืงื ืžื™ื™ืจื™ ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืืœื• ื”ืขืจื‘ื™ื™ื ืฉืฉื•ื‘ืชื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ื ื•’ ืœืฉื ืข”ื’ ื•ืืคื™’ ื”ื™ื›ื ื“ืฉื•ื‘ืชื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืœืฉื•ื ืฉืžื™ื ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ืœื ืืคืงื•ื“ ืขืœื” ื”ื•ื” ืœื™ื” ื›ื’ื–ืœ ื•ืคืจื™ืง ืจื‘ื™ื ื ืœื ื ืฆืจื›ื ืืœื ืœืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ืฉื ื—ื•ื‘ื” ื›ืœืœ ืืœื ืœื ื•ื— ื‘ืขืœืžื ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืžืชื›ื•ื•ืŸ ืœืฉื‘ื•ืช ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืœืคื™ ืฉื ืจืื” ื›ืงื•ื‘ืข ืฉื‘ืช ืœืขืฆืžื• ื•ื‘ื•ื“ื” ื“ืช ืžืœื‘ื•.   ื•ื”ืจื‘ ืจื‘ื™ ืžืฉื” ื‘ืจ ืžื™ื™ืžื•ืŸ ื ื•ื—ื• ืขื“ืŸ ืžื•ืงื™ื ืœื” ื‘ืกืคืจ ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื” ื‘ืงื•ื‘ืข ืฉื‘ืช ืœืขืฆืžื• ืฉื ืžืฆื ื‘ื•ื“ื” ื“ืช ืžืœื‘ื• ื•ืœื”ืื™ ืกื‘ืจื ื“ื™ื“ื™ื” ื”ื ื“ืžืงืฉื™ื ืŸ ืคืฉื™ื˜ื ื”ื›ื™ ืžืคืจืฉื™’ ืœื” ื“ืงื ืก”ื“ ื›ื•’ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืงืื™ ื•ืืžื˜ื•ืœ ื”ื›ื™ ื›ื™ ืงื ืžืชืžื”ื™ื ืŸ ืคืฉื™ื˜ื ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ืื™ ืœืฉื ืข”ื’ ืงื ืขื‘ื™ื“ ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืข”ื’ ื•ืžืคืจืงื™ื ืŸ ืœื ื ืฆืจื›ื ืืœื ืืคื™ืœื• ืœืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ื“ืœื ืงื‘ื™ืขื ื‘ื™ื” ืฉื‘ืช ืœืข”ื’ ืืค”ื” ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ืงื‘ืขื™ื” ืœืฉื ืฉื‘ืช ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืœืคื™ ืฉื‘ื“ื” ื“ืช ืžืœื‘ื•. ื•ืžืงืฉื™’ ื•ืœื—ืฉื‘ื” ื’ื‘ื™ ืฉื‘ืข ืžืฆื•ืช ื•ืžืคืจืงื™ื ืŸ ื›ื™ ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืฉื‘ ื•ืืœ ืชืขืฉื” ืงื•ื ืขืฉื” ืœื ืงื—ืฉื™ื‘ ื•ืœืื• ื“ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื•ืชื• ืงื•ื ืขืฉื” ืžืœืื›ื” ื”ื•ื. ื•ืžืงืฉื™ื ืŸ ื•ื”ื ื“ื™ื ื™ืŸ ื“ืงื•ื ืขืฉื” (ื•ื“ื™ืŸ) [ื•ื“ื•ืŸ] ื”ื•ื ื•ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื™ื” ื•ืžืคืจืงื™ื ืŸ ื”ืชื ืฉื‘ ื•ืืœ ืชืขืฉื” ื ืžื™ ืื™ื›ื ืฉื‘ ื•ืืœ ืชื“ื™ืŸ ื“ื™ืŸ ืขื•ืœ ื•ืžืฉ”ื” ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื™ื”:  

VII. Concept #4: Meโ€™iriโ€”Creating a New Religion, Becoming an Influencer, Permission to Observe Other Mitzvot

11. Meโ€™iri, Sanhedrin 59a

A Ben Noach, whom we have seen acting โ€œpiouslyโ€, i.e. he has established for himself days of restโ€”either Sabbath or Yom Tovโ€”is deserving of punishment, although not execution. It is not only when he has established these things for himself based on our tradition, such as a Gentile who is observing the Sabbath, that we punish him, and we say to him, โ€œeither accept upon yourself the yoke of the mitzvot, or do not create new rituals from what is oursโ€; even if he fixes for himself other days [besides our Sabbath and Yom Tov] such as Monday, we do not allow him to create and establish a festival for himself where he keeps Sabbath laws as a festival, because it appears to others as if he is one of our people, and others will learn from him. But with regard to other mitzvot, we do not withhold these from him, for Chazal have instructed us to accept sacrifices and tzedakah from him. Additionally, the law is, if he engages in intense Torah study not for the sake of fulfilling its mitzvot, but to arrive at a deep knowledge of our Torah and Talmud, it is appropriate that he be punished, because other people will assume that he is a Jew, based on the fact that they see that he knows [Torah] and they will mistakenly follow his example. Nevertheless, any extent to which he engages in Torah study as it pertains to the Sheva Mitzvot and their details, and everything that results from them, even if the majority of the rest of the Torah is contained within them, we honor him even like we would the Kohen Gadol, because there is no concern that people will mistakenly follow him, for he is only studying that which pertains to himโ€”and this is all the more true if his study is performed with the intention of getting a full knowledge of the Torah where if he finds it perfect he will come back and convert, and especially if he studies and fulfills its mitzvot for their own sake, even in areas that are not from the Seven Mitzvot.ื‘ืŸ ื ื— ืฉืจืื™ื ื•ื”ื• ืžืชื—ืกื“ ื•ืงื•ื‘ืข ืœืขืฆืžื• ื™ืžื™ ืžื ื•ื—ื” ืฉื‘ืช ืื• ื™ื•ื ื˜ื•ื‘ ืจืื•ื™ ืœื™ืขื ืฉ ืืข”ืค ืฉืื™ื ื• ื ื”ืจื’ ื•ืœื ืกื•ืฃ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืฉืงื•ื‘ืข ืืช ืขืฆืžื• ืขืœ ืฉืœื ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืจืžื•ื– ื›ืืŸ ื‘ื’ื•ื™ ืฉืฉื‘ืช ืฉืขื•ื ืฉื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ืŸ ืœื• ืื• ืฉื™ืงื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ื• ืขื•ืœ ืžืฆื•ืช ืื• ืœื ื™ื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื ืžื•ืกื™ื• ืžืฉืœื ื• ืืœื ืืฃ ื‘ืฉืงื‘ืข ืœืขืฆืžื• ื™ืžื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื›ืืŸ ืืฃ ื‘ืฉื ื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืฉืื™ืŸ ืžื ื™ื—ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื• ื•ืœืงื‘ื•ืข ื™ื•ื ื—ื’ ืœืขืฆืžื• ืœืฉื‘ื•ืช ื‘ื• ืžืชื•ืจืช ื—ื’ ืฉื–ื” ื ืจืื” ื›ืžื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื ื• ื•ื™ืœืžื“ื• ืื—ืจื™ื ื”ื™ืžื ื• ืื‘ืœ ืฉืืจ ืžืฆื•ืช ืื™ืŸ ืžื•ื ืขื™ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื ื• ืฉื”ืจื™ ืืžืจื• ืœืงื‘ืœ ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืฆื“ืงื•ืชื™ื• ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ืื ืขืกืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ืฉืœื ืœื›ื•ื ืช ืงื™ื•ื ืขื™ืงืจื™ ืžืฆื•ื•ืชื™ื” ืืœื ืฉืœื‘ื• ื—ืคืฅ ืœื™ืจื“ ืœื™ื“ื™ืขืช ืชื•ืจืชื™ื ื• ื•ืชืœืžื•ื“ื™ื ื• ืจืื•ื™ ืœื™ืขื ืฉ ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืกื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืขืœื™ื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืฉืœื ื• ืžืชื•ืš ืฉืจื•ืื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื™ื•ื“ืข ื•ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืœื˜ืขื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ืž”ืž ื›ืœ ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื•ืกืง ื‘ืขื™ืงืจื™ ืฉื‘ืข ืžืฆื•ืช ื•ื‘ืคืจื˜ื™ื”ื ื•ื‘ืžื” ืฉื™ื•ืฆื ืžื”ื ืืข”ืค ืฉืจื•ื‘ ื’ื•ืคื™ ืชื•ืจื” ื ื›ืœืœื™ื ื‘ื”ื ืžื›ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืืคื™ืœื• ื›ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ื—ืฉืฉ ืœื˜ืขื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ื• ืฉื”ืจื™ ืืฃ ื‘ืฉืœื• ื”ื•ื ืขื•ืกืง ื•ื›ืœ ืฉื›ืŸ ืื ื—ืงื™ืจืชื• ืขืœ ื“ืขืช ืœื‘ื ืขื“ ืชื›ืœื™ืช ืฉืœื™ืžื•ืช ืชื•ืจืชื™ื ื• ืขื“ ืฉืื ื™ืžืฆืื ื” ืฉืœื™ืžื” ื™ื—ื–ื•ืจ ื•ื™ืชื’ื™ื™ืจ ื•ื›ืœ ืฉื›ืŸ ืื ืขื•ืกืง ื•ืžืงื™ื™ื ืขื™ืงืจื™ ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื” ืœืฉืžื” ืืฃ ื‘ืฉืืจ ื—ืœืงื™ื ืฉื‘ื” ืฉืœื ืžืฉื‘ืข ืžืฆื•ืช:  

VIII. Other Mitzvot

12. Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 10:9

A Ben Noach who wants to perform any of the other mitzvot of the Torah (besides Torah study and Shabbat observance), in order to be rewarded for his devotions, we do not prevent him from doing them in accordance with their halachot. And if he brings an elevation-offering, we accept it from him. If he gives tzedakah, we accept it from him. And it seems to me that we would even distribute it to the poor of Israel.ื‘ึถึผืŸ ื ึนื—ึท ืฉึถืืจึธืฆึธื” ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึธื” ืžึดืฉึฐึผืืึธืจ ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึนืช ื”ึทืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ื›ึฐึผื“ึตื™ ืœึฐืงึทื‘ึตึผืœ ืฉึธื‚ื›ึธืจ. ืึตื™ืŸ ืžื•ึนื ึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ื›ึฐึผื”ึดืœึฐื›ึธืชึธื”ึผ. ื•ึฐืึดื ื”ึตื‘ึดื™ื ืขื•ึนืœึธื” ืžึฐืงึทื‘ึฐึผืœึดื™ืŸ ืžึดืžึถึผื ึผื•ึผ. ื ึธืชึทืŸ ืฆึฐื“ึธืงึธื” ืžึฐืงึทื‘ึฐึผืœึดื™ืŸ ืžึดืžึถึผื ึผื•ึผ. ื•ึฐื™ึตืจึธืึถื” ืœึดื™ ืฉึถืื ึผื•ึนืชึฐื ึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืœึทืขึฒื ึดื™ึตึผื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ. ื”ื•ึนืึดื™ืœ ื•ึฐื”ื•ึผื ื ึดื–ึผื•ึนืŸ ืžึดื™ึดึผืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื•ึผืžึดืฆึฐื•ึธื” ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถื ืœึฐื”ึทื—ึฐื™ื•ึนืชื•ึน. ืึฒื‘ึธืœ ื”ึธืขึทื›ึผื•ึผ”ื ืฉึถืื ึธึผืชึทืŸ ืฆึฐื“ึธืงึธื” ืžึฐืงึทื‘ึฐึผืœึดื™ืŸ ืžึดืžึถึผื ึผื•ึผ ื•ึฐื ื•ึนืชึฐื ึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืœึทืขึฒื ึดื™ึตึผื™ ืขึทื›ึผื•ึผ”ื:  

13. Chiddushei Hatam Sofer, Chullin 33a

See the Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 10:9), where it appears that [the Rambam] differentiates between a non-Jew and a Ben Noach. For [the Ben Noach] has accepted upon himself not to worship idols, and therefore he is permitted to observe the Sabbath and to fulfill any commandments he wishes to. Additionally, we accept sacrificial offerings from him, we teach him Torah, and we accept tzedakah from him. This does not contradict the principle that โ€œa non-Jew who observes the Sabbath is liable to the death penaltyโ€; a non-Jew who does not worship idols is permitted to observe the Sabbath. This answers the challenge brought in the gemara, โ€œso let this be counted amongst the Seven Mitzvot!โ€. It seems to me that Rambam bases his ruling on Nedarim 31a, where it is stated, โ€œan idol-worshipper can observe mitzvot although they are not commanded to do soโ€. The implication here is also that they are not forbidden to do so. [Now the halacha follows the anonymous opinion in Nedarim, for it is a later tractate than the rest of the Talmud.]ื•ืขื™ื™ืŸ ืจืžื‘”ื ืค’ ื™ื•ื“ ืžืžืœื›ื™ื ื”’ ื˜’ ื•ื”’ ื™ื•ื“ ืฉื ืจืื” ืฉืžื—ืœืง ื‘ื™ืŸ ืขื›ื•”ื ืœื‘ืŸ ื ื— ืฉืื•ืชื• ืงื™ื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ื• ืฉืœื ืœืขืข”ื– ื•ื–ื” ืžื•ืชืจ ืœืฉื‘ื•ืช ื•ืœืงื™ื™ื ื”ืžืฆื•ืช ืฉื™ืจืฆื” ื•ืžื–ื” ืžืงื‘ืœื™ื ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื•ืžืœืžื“ื™ื ืœื• ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืžืงื‘ืœื™ื ืžืžื ื• ืฆื“ืงื” ื•ื”ืฉืชื ืœืง”ืž ืžื’ื•ื™ ืฉืฉื‘ืช ืžื™ ืื™ื›ื ืžื™ื“ื™ ื“ื”ืจื™ ื’ื ื’ื•ื™ ืื ืื™ื ื• ืขืข”ื– ืžื•ืชืจ ืœืฉื‘ื•ืช. ื•ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืง’ ืฉ”ืก ื•ืœื—ืฉื‘ื™’ ื‘ื”ื“ื™ ื–’ ืžืฆื•ืช ื•ื ”ืœ ืจืžื‘”ื ืกืžื•ืš ืืฉ”ืก ื ื“ืจื™ื ืœ”ื ืข”ื ืขื•ืฉื™ื ื•ืื™ื ื ืžืฆื•ื•ื™ื ืžืฉืžืข ื’ื ืื™ื ื ืืกื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืœื›ื” ื›ืกืชื ื“ื ื“ืจื™ื ื“ื”ื•ื ื‘ืชืจื ื˜ืคื™ ืžืกืชื ืฉ”ืก ื“ืฉืืจื™ ืžืกื›ืชื•ืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ื™ื‘ื•ืจ ืžืื•ื—ืจ:  

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