A simple reading of the rules of Maimonides' would indicate that Jews or a Jewish court are obligated in (at the minimum) coercing Noachides to observe their laws. Such is not the only way, however, to interpret Maimonides' statements. Maharatz Chayut in his responsa[Responsa 2.] seems to adopt a formulation of Maimonides ruling that makes this law a mere historical recounting of facts. He states (quoting the Rashbash [Rabbi Shlomo Ben Shimon Duran, Rashbash 543.])
According to Maharatz Chayut, there is no obligation for any specific Jew, in any circumstance to compel observance by a Noachide. Rather Maimonides is merely explaining the jurisprudential basis for the obligation of Noachides to their seven commandments -- absent Moses' re-commandment at Sinai, only Jews would have been obligated in Noachide law. The most that one could claim according to Maharatz Chayut is that perhaps Moses himself was obligated to compel observance of the Noachide laws; Jews currently are not -- apparently neither in the context of a beit din nor in the context of any specific individual. Maharatz Chayut would then limit Maimonides' rule obligating Jews to establish courts and appoint judges to those Noachides who formally accept the obligations of a ger toshav (resident alien) and who live in the Jewish community and who are dependent on it for law and order "lest the world be destroyed".[ Maimonides Malachim 10:11. ] Certainly in the diaspora there are few such communities of Noachides; although if there were, and they could not see fit to enforce the law themselves, a Jew should guide them. Similar claims that Maimonides' rules do not create a practical legal obligation can be found in Aruch Hashulchan,[YD 267:12-13] the writings of Rabbi Yehuda Gershuni,[ Rabbi Yehuda Gershuni (Mishpatai Melucha 2d ed. pages 232-234)] Rabbi Shaul Yisrali[ Amud Yemini 12:1:12.] and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kasher,[ Torah Shelama 17:220] the author of Torah Shelama, all of whom assert that the opinion of Maimonides itself is to be understood as limited to yemot hamashe'ach (or perhaps less ideally, full Jewish law in Israel).
However, all of these explanations of Maimonides' ruling are difficult and the simple understanding of Maimonides is that (at the least) a person that is capable of forcing compliance, must. Indeed, while Rabbi Karo does appear to limit the application of Maimonides somewhat, he clearly understands Maimonides as requiring compulsion whenever possible, even by an individual. [Kesef Mishnah Mila 1:6] This is similarly understood to be the opinion of Maimonides by Tzafnach Panaich, in his lengthy discussion on this topic. [Rabbi Joseph Rosen, Tzafnach Paneach, Maimonides, Milah 1:6] A ruling similar to Maimonides' is found in Chinuch 192, where it states: "The rule is as follows: In all that the nations are commanded, any time they are under our jurisdiction, it is incumbent upon us to judge them when they violate the commandments." Thus this appears to apply non-Jews who are citizens of a sovereign Jewish entity run according to Jewish Law.
Two important notes must be taken into account when reading this translation. 1) Jewish law does not always follow the Maimonides, and in certain case other opinions are accepted as law. 2) The question as to what constitutes idolatry today, and whether Christianity constitutes idolatry or a lesser form of ''partnership'', is a matter of debate in Jewish law. In any event, Jewish law has never, at any time in our history, suggested that Christians be prosecuted according to these laws.
<td valign="top" width="50%">Laws of Kings and their Wars, Chapter 8</td>
<td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><big>הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק ח</big></div></td>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">'''9''' ''Yafes toar'' that does not want to quit idolatry after twelve months, receives capital punishment. Likewise with a captured city -- no treaty is is made with them until they have denounced idolatry, destroyed all its places, and have taken upon themselves the seven laws that were commanded to Noah: Any non-Jew who does accept the laws that were commanded to ''Bnei Noah'' -- he receives capital punishment if he is within our jurisdiction.</td><td align="right" valign="top"><div dir="rtl" lang="HE"><bbig>'''ט</b> ''' יפת תואר שלא רצתה להניח עבודה זרה אחר השנים עשר חדש, הורגין אותה. וכן עיר שהשלימה -- אין כורתין להן ברית עד שיכפרו בעבודה זרה, ויאבדו כל מקומותיה, ויקבלו שאר המצוות שנצטוו בני נוח: שכל גוי שלא קבל מצות שנצטוו בני נוח -- הורגין אותו אם ישנו תחת ידינו.</big></div></td>
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