When discussing the Seven Mitzvot\u2014the Seven Commandments for the descendants of Noah\u2014with people, some may feel disappointed. This can actually be a good sign, as it indicates that one wishes to do more for G-d than what is strictly necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Talmud Sanhedrin 56b<\/a> the Sages explain that the descendants of Noah have 7 Commandments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe descendants of Noah,<\/strong> i.e., all of humanity, were commanded<\/strong> to observe seven mitzvot:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Talmud Chullin 92a<\/a>, we read that there are 30 Mitzvot for the descendants of Noah.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUlla says: These are the thirty mitzvot that the descendants of Noah<\/strong> initially accepted upon themselves; but they fulfill only three<\/strong> of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rashi explains that 30 commandments are being referred to here, but they are not specified anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRabbi Judah says<\/strong>: These are the thirty righteous individuals among the nations of the world, by whose merit the nations of the world exist. Ola said<\/strong>: These are the thirty commandments that the descendants of Noah initially received, but they only observe three of them. And these are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.<\/strong> The prohibition against murder. This passage is from the Talmud (Sanhedrin 56a) and it discusses the universal obligations given to the nations of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the thirty Mitzvot are not specified, we can only conclude that the seven commandments can be detailed within their categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the book The Noahide Laws you can find a detailed explanation of the seven Laws and their thirty details, as presented by Rabbi Shmuel ben Chofni Gaon. For example, under Idol Worship, it discusses Belief in the Unity of G-d and the Prohibition of Idolatry, while under Murder it includes the prohibition of suicide and murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, we have the list of Rabbi Menachem Azaria da Fano, presented in his work “Asara Maamarot.”<\/a> Rabbi L. Rabinowitz provides a summary of Rabbi Menachem Azaria da Fano\u2019s the list <\/a>[pdf]: Note that all items in italics<\/em> are positive details of the seven commandments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I 1) Idolatry Avodah Zarah \/ Avodat Elilim<\/strong> II 11) Sexual sins – Giluy Arayos<\/strong> III 18) Murder – Damim Shefichus<\/strong> IV 20) Blasphemy – Birkas Hashem – \u05d1\u05e8\u05db\u05ea \u05d4\u05f3<\/strong> V 23) Theft – Gezel – \u05d2\u05d6\u05dc<\/strong> VI 25) Establishment of a system of Justice – Hadinim Leyishuvo shel olam <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n VII 27) Eating all or part of a living creature – Eiver min Hachay – \u05d0\u05d1\u05e8 \u05de\u05df \u05d4\u05d7\u05d9<\/strong> Rabbi Aaron Lichtenstein, in his book “The Seven Laws of Noah<\/em>,” lists 66 details of the seven Commandments. There is even a list with 90 details of these commandments<\/a>. Regardless, not all details of the commandments need to be specifically mentioned, as many are logical and contribute to a healthy society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, Noahides may voluntarily observe other Torah commandments for practical benefits (but not as a religious obligation), such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, a Noahide is not allowed to observe other Jewish commandments from the Torah as a religious obligation, as this is forbidden based on the prohibition of adding a commandment.[2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, Noahides need not be “disappointed” that they have “only” seven Commandments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n By Angelique Sijbolts<\/strong> [1] The Noahide Laws, pp. 49-50 <\/p>\n\n\n\n [2] The Divine Code <\/em>by Rabbi Moshe Weiner 4e edition, Part 1 topic 3:6, p. 60<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our blogs may contain text\/quotes\/references\/links that include copyright material of Mechon-Mamre.org<\/a>, Aish.com<\/a>, Sefaria.org<\/a>, Chabad.org<\/a>, and\/or AskNoah.org<\/a>, which we use in accordance with their policies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When discussing the Seven Mitzvot\u2014the Seven Commandments for the descendants of Noah\u2014with people, some may feel disappointed. This can actually be a good sign, as it indicates that one wishes to do more for G-d than what is strictly necessary. In the Talmud Sanhedrin 56b the Sages explain that the descendants of Noah have 7 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basic-questions","category-noahide-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
1 The mitzva of establishing courts of judgment;
2 and<\/strong> the prohibition against blessing,<\/strong> i.e., cursing, the name<\/strong> of G-d;
3 and the prohibition of idol worship;<\/strong>
4 and the prohibition against forbidden sexual relations;
5 and<\/strong> the prohibition of bloodshed;
6 and<\/strong> the prohibition of robbery;
7 and<\/strong> the prohibition against eating a limb from a living<\/strong> animal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Steinsaltz renders the text as follows (translated from Hebrew):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.<\/strong> The prohibition against adultery.
3.<\/strong> The prohibition against theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) Passing a child through fire in the worship of Molech
3) Stick divination
4) Divining of auspicious times
5) Interpreting of omens \/ Superstition
6) Witchcraft \/ Sorcery
7) Charming \/ using incantations
8) Consulting mediums
9) Consulting oracles
10) Necromancy <\/p>\n\n\n\n
12) Be fruitful<\/em>
13) Multiply seed.<\/em>
14) Don\u2019t draw up marriage contracts for homosexuals
15) Cross-breeding of animals
16) Castration
17) Grafting trees <\/p>\n\n\n\n
19) Striking a Jew <\/p>\n\n\n\n
21) Honour the Torah (and Torah scholars)<\/em>
22) Studying parts of the Torah relevant to Noahide observance <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
24) No to study nonrelevant parts of the Torah <\/p>\n\n\n\n
28) Blood of a living creature
29) Eating an animal that died (without slaughter)
30) Human flesh – Basar Hames <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for the feedback<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n