Publications

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Wikinoah makes no claims concerning these publications, and may or may not represent the position of Wikinoah and/or UNC Inc.

Prayer Books

Modern Authors

  • Bindman, Yirmeyahu. (The) Seven Colors of the Rainbow: Torah Ethics for Non-Jews. Resource Publications; 1995. Paperback. ISBN 0-893903-32-9. [A great beginning book for the non-Jew looking into Torah ethics. Explains what G-d originally required of mankind that has been kept from most for nearly 2,000 years, and the role of Gentile in the world to come.] Amazon
  • Bleich, Rabbi J. David. "Mishpat Mavet Bedenai Benai Noach," Jubilee Volume in Honor of Rabbi Joseph D. Soloveitchik 1:193-208 (5754);
  • Bleich, Rabbi J. David. "Tikkun Olam: Jewish Obligations to Non-Jewish Society" in: Tikkun olam: social responsibility in Jewish thought and law. Edited by David Shatz, Chaim I. Waxman and Nathan J. Diament. Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 1997. ISBN 0765759519.
  • Chait, Rabbi Israel. "Responsibility for the Implementation of the Noachide Code", Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Bnei Torah, (Far Rockaway, Queens), Former advisor to the Noachide community in Athens, TN
  • Clorfene, Chaim and Yaakov Rogalsky The Path of the Righteous Gentile: An Introduction to the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah. New York: Phillip Feldheim, 1987. ISBN 087306433X. also Smithfield, MI: Targum Press, 1987 Online version. Amazon
  • Cowen, Shimon Dovid. 'Perspectives on the Noahide Laws: Universal Ethics (Monographs in Judaism and Civilization,)
  • Davis, J. David. Finding The G-d of Noah: The Spiritual Journey of a Baptist Minister from Christianity to the Laws of Noah. KTAV Publishing (900 Jefferson Street, Hoboken NJ 07030). 1996. ISBN: 0-881255-35-1.
  • Encyclopedia Talmudit, "Ben Noach" 3:348-362;
  • Ginsburgh, Rabbi Yitzchak. Kabbalah and Meditation for the Nations. Publisher: Gal Einai, 2006. The covenant with the Jewish people was not the first made between the Almighty and mankind. Before the revelation at Mt. Sinai, G-d commanded Adam and then made a covenant with Noah, giving them the guidelines for the universal religion of mankind.
  • Hanke, Kimberly E. Turning to Torah: The Emerging Noachide Movement Jason Aronson Publishing House (230 Livingston Street, Northvale, New Jersey 07647) and Number Seven Spectrum House (32-34 Gordon House Road London, NW5 1LP England). 1995. 250 pp. ISBN: 1-568215-00-2. [One woman's path from Christianity to "Messianic" Christianity, and finally to Torah since 1988. At one point, she considers conversion to Judaism, and then learns of the Noachide Covenant, through several Jewish individuals. She then was enlightened into the writings of J. David Davis.] Amazon
  • Kaplan, Jeffrey. Radical Religion in America: Millenarian Movements from the Far Right to the Children of Noah. Syracuse Univ Pr (Trade); 1997. Paperback ISBN 0-815603-96-7. Amazon
  • Katz, Rabbi Michael, "The Contemporary Noachide Movement", Former advisor to the Noachide community in Athens, TN
  • Lichtenstein, Aaron. "The Seven Laws of Noah". New York: The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Press and Z. Berman Books, 2d ed. 1986. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 80-69121. Website The most technical book on Noahism. It is probably not intended to be an introduction to the Noahide system, but rather a detailed scholarly analysis for those who have been Noahides for a long time or for Jewish scholars of Noahism.
  • Novak, David. The image of the non-Jew in Judaism: an historical and constructive study of the Noahide Laws. New York : E. Mellen Press, 1983. Amazon
  • Novak, David. Natural law in Judaism. Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1998.
  • Rakover, Professor Nahum. "Jewish Law and the Noahide Obligation to Preserve Social Order", Cardozo L.Rev. 12:1073-xxxx (1991)
  • Schwartz, Rabbi Yoel, "The Source and Corpus of the Noachide Code", Yeshivat Dvar Yerushalayim (Israel), Author of Or L'Amim ("Light unto the Nations")
  • Soloveitchik,Rabbi Aharon, "Criminal Penalties under the Noachide Code", Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Yeshiva University

Last Century

  • Benamozegh, Elijah. Israel and Humanity Translated by Maxwell Uria, in the series Classics of Western Spirituality. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1995. Amazon
  • Pallière, Aimé. The Unknown Sanctuary: A Pilgrimage from Rome to Israel. Bloch Pub Co; 1986. Paperback ISBN 0-819704-98-9. Amazon
  • Rabbi Emden, appendix to "Seder 'Olam" (pp. 32b-34b, Hamburg, 1752), in a remarkable apology for Christianity contained in his, gives it as his opinion that the original intention of Jesus, and especially of Paul, was to convert only the Gentiles to the seven moral laws of Noah and to let the Jews follow the Mosaic law—which explains the apparent contradictions in the New Testament regarding the laws of Moses and the Sabbath

References in the Acharonim

Rabbis of 1550 to the present.

  • Judah ha-Levi, "Cuzari," iii. 73, although only those laws which are found in the Torah, before the revelation at Sinai, should, it would seem, be binding upon all mankind, yet the Rabbis discarded some and, by hermeneutic rules or in accordance with some tradition, introduced others which are not found there.
  • Kesef Mishneh on Sanhedrin 57b, In the case of murder, if the Noachide slay a child in its mother's womb, or kill a person whose life is despaired of ("ṭerefah"), or if he cause the death of a person by starving him or by putting him before a lion so that he can not escape, or if he slay a man in self-defense, the Noachide is guilty of murder and must pay the death-penalty, although under the same circumstances an Israelite would not be executed
  • Leḥem Mishneh & Kesef Mishneh on Sanhedrin 74b, The Noachid is free from punishment if he commits a sin unwittingly; ignorance of the Law, however, does not excuse him. If he commits a sin under duress, even one for which an Israelite is obliged to undergo martyrdom rather than transgress (e.g., idolatry, adultery, or murder), he is not liable to punishment
  • Sefer Haikarim 1:25. One finds although torah law and Noachide law differ in the details, the principles used are the same, since they derive from the same source. Moreover, the two systems exist concurrently: while Jews have torah law, the other peoples abide by the Noachide code.

References in the Rishonim

Rabbis of the early medieval period (1250–1550) preceding the Shulchan Aruch

  • Tosefos, 'Avodah Zarah, 8(9?):4, enumeration of the seven Noachide laws
  • Tosefos, Sanhedrin 8:1, He who observed the seven Noachian laws was regarded as one of the pious of the Gentiles, and was assured of a portion in the world to come.
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 8:11, He who observed the seven Noachian laws was regarded as one of the pious of the Gentiles, and was assured of a portion in the world to come.
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:1, enumeration of the seven Noachide laws
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:4, In the case of murder, if the Noachide slay a child in its mother's womb, or kill a person whose life is despaired of ("ṭerefah"), or if he cause the death of a person by starving him or by putting him before a lion so that he can not escape, or if he slay a man in self-defense, the Noachide is guilty of murder and must pay the death-penalty, although under the same circumstances an Israelite would not be executed
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:5-8, Only six cases of what would ordinarily be illicit connection are forbidden to the Noachid: (1) with mother; (2) with father's wife, even after the father's death; (3) with a married woman, whether married to a Jew or to a non-Jew; (4) with sister by the same mother; (5) pederasty; (6) bestiality. In these cases also there are differences in the punishment inflicted, dependent upon whether the offenses are committed by a Noachide or by an Israelite
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:9-13, The Noachide is punished with decapitation for all kinds of robbery, whether from a Jew or from a non-Jew, even though the article stolen is worth less than a peruṭah (the smallest Palestinian coin, for less than which no case can be instituted against an Israelite). The Noachide is executed also if he eat of a limb cut from a living animal, even though the quantity consumed be less than the size of an olive (the minimum portion for the eating of which an Israelite may be punished.
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:14, The Noachidæ are required to establish courts of justice in every city and province; and these courts are to judge the people with regard to the six laws and to warn them against the transgression of any of them
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:14, The many formalities of procedure essential when the accused is an Israelite need not be observed in the case of the Noachide.
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 10:1,2, (based on Sanhedrin 74b) The Noachid is free from punishment if he commits a sin unwittingly; ignorance of the Law, however, does not excuse him. If he commits a sin under duress, even one for which an Israelite is obliged to undergo martyrdom rather than transgress (e.g., idolatry, adultery, or murder), he is not liable to punishment
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 10:4, (based on Sanhedrin 71b) A Noachide who slays another Noachide, or worships idols, or blasphemes, or has illicit connection with the wife of another Noachid, and then becomes a proselyte, is free from punishment. If, however, he has killed an Israelite, or has had illicit connection with the wife of an Israelite, and then becomes a proselyte, he must submit to the punishment that is inflicted upon an Israelite found guilty of such a transgression
  • Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 10:9, The principle is, one is not permitted to make innovations in religion or to create new commandments. He has the privilege to become a true proselyte by accepting the whole Law.
  • Naḥmanides on Genesis 34:13 (differing with Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Melachim 9:14), the opinion is expressed that these courts should judge also cases other than those coming under the head of the six laws, as, for example, larceny, assault and battery, etc.
  • Rashi on Yevamot 48b, Every Noahide who renounces idolatry needs to observe Shabbot (but not as Jews do), because failing to properly honor the Sabbath is itself a species of idolatry

References in the Savoraim & Geonim

The classical Persian rabbis (500–600) and Rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylonia (650–1250)

  • Seder 'Olam Rabbah, , ed. Ratner, ch. 5, enumeration of the seven Noachide laws

References in the Midrashim

  • Genesis Rabah 16:9, 24:5, enumeration of the seven Noachide laws
  • Canticles Rabah 1:16, enumeration of the seven Noachide laws

References in the Talmud

The sages of the Mishna (70–200) and of the Talmud (200–500)

  • 'Eruvin 62a
  • Pesachim 22b
  • Yoma 28b
  • Yevamot 47b
  • Yevamot 48b
  • Yevamot 49a
  • Yevamot 62a
  • Nedarim 31a
  • Bava Kama 38a, Of Gamaliel II. is recorded a conversation with two pseudo-proselyte generals, who, being sent to investigate Jewish practises, take exception only rules governing damages which were not symetrical between Jew and non-Jew. A discussion of how the mankind as stopped observing the Seven Laws and its implications for Jewish law.
  • Bava Kama 38a; Sanhedrin 59a, R' Meir who insisted that in Lev. xviii. 5 the word "man," not "priest," "Levite," or "Israelite," occurs, and thus claimed that a non-Jew versed in the Torah equals in rank the high priest (Sifra, 86b, where II Sam. vii. 19 ["ha-adam"]; Isa. xxvi. 2, "goi zaddik"; Ps. xxxiii. 1, "zaddikim," and cxxv. 4, "le-tovim," are similarly applied to Gentile and Jew alike)
  • Bava Kama 92a
  • Bava Metzi'a 90a
  • Sanhedrin 56a, enumeration of the seven Noachide laws
  • Sanhedrin 56b, the prohibitions against eating the blood of a living animal, against the emasculation of animals, against sorcery, against pairing animals of different species, and against grafting trees of different kinds (Tanna debe Menasseh)
  • Sanhedrin 56b, With regard to idolatry, he can be found guilty only if he worshiped an idol in the regular form in which that particular deity is usually worshiped; while in the case of blasphemy he may be found guilty, even when he has blasphemed with one of the attributes of God's name—an action which, if committed by an Israelite, would not be regarded as criminal
  • Sanhedrin 57a, The many formalities of procedure essential when the accused is an Israelite need not be observed in the case of the Noachide. The latter may be convicted on the testimony of one witness, even on that of relatives, but not on that of a woman. He need have had no warning ("hatra'ah") from the witnesses; and a single judge may pass sentence on him
  • Sanhedrin 57b, In the case of murder, if the Noachide slay a child in its mother's womb, or kill a person whose life is despaired of ("ṭerefah"), or if he cause the death of a person by starving him or by putting him before a lion so that he can not escape, or if he slay a man in self-defense, the Noachide is guilty of murder and must pay the death-penalty, although under the same circumstances an Israelite would not be executed
  • Sanhedrin 58a
  • Sanhedrin 58b, Resh Laḳish (d. 278) said, "A Gentile observing the Sabbath deserves death"
  • Sanhedrin 59a; R. Jose ben Ḥanina, "Every law that was enjoined upon the Noachidæ and was repeated at Sinai is meant to apply both to Israelites and to non-Israelites; laws that were enjoined upon the Noachidæ and were not repeated at Sinai apply to Israelites only" By this principle a number of the pre-Sinaitic laws were excluded from the Noachian laws
  • Sanhedrin 59a; & Ḥagigah 13a, Inasmuch as the Jews had their own distinct jurisdiction, it would have been unwise to reveal their laws to the non-Jews, for such knowledge might have operated against the Jews in their opponents' courts. Hence the Talmud prohibited the teaching to a Gentile of the Torah, R. Johanan says of one so teaching: "Such a person deserves death" (an idiom used to express indignation). "It is like placing an obstacle before the blind"
  • Sanhedrin 71b, A Noachide who slays another Noachide, or worships idols, or blasphemes, or has illicit connection with the wife of another Noachid, and then becomes a proselyte, is free from punishment. If, however, he has killed an Israelite, or has had illicit connection with the wife of an Israelite, and then becomes a proselyte, he must submit to the punishment that is inflicted upon an Israelite found guilty of such a transgression.
  • Sanhedrin 74b
  • Sanhedrin 91b & 105a, He who observed the seven Noachian laws was regarded as one of the pious of the Gentiles, and was assured of a portion in the world to come.
  • 'Avodah Zarah 2b
  • 'Avodah Zarah 5b
  • 'Avodah Zarah 6a
  • 'Avodah Zarah 15a
  • 'Avodah Zarah 24a
  • 'Avodah Zarah 26a. I a Gentile study the Law for the purpose of observing the moral laws of Noah, R. Meïr says he is as good as a high priest, and quotes: "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them". The text does not specify an Israelite or a Levite or a priest, but simply "a man"—even a Gentile/
  • 'Avodah Zarah 51a
  • 'Avodah Zarah 64b, He who observed the seven Noachian laws was regarded as a domiciled alien (Ger Toshav).
  • 'Avodah Zarah 71b
  • Makkot 9a, Sanhedrin 74b, The Noachid is free from punishment if he commits a sin unwittingly; ignorance of the Law, however, does not excuse him. If he commits a sin under duress, even one for which an Israelite is obliged to undergo martyrdom rather than transgress (e.g., idolatry, adultery, or murder), he is not liable to punishment.
  • Makkot 9b
  • Chullin 89b
  • Chullin 91a
  • Chulin 92a, thirty Noachian laws are mentioned.
  • Chulin 92b, In Talmudic times the non-Jews of Babylon were apparently sunk in the grossest immorality, so that 'Ula, one of the earlier Babylonian amoraim, complains that out of the thirty laws which the Noachidæ accept they observe only three — they do not write a marriage contract ("ketubah") for pederasty; they do not sell human flesh in their shops; and they show respect for the Torah.
  • Chulin 94a, Honesty and truthfulness are insisted on in all dealings, whether with a Jew or a Gentile. The Rabbis insisted that the sin known as "genebat da'at" (the stealing of another's good opinion by false representations or by the pretense of friendship and the like) be avoided in one's intercourse even with a non-Jew.
  • Chullin 100b
  • Chullin 101b
  • Chullin 114b
  • Chullin 121a
  • Chullin 129a
  • Bechorot 3b
  • Temurah 7a
  • Tohorot 43a
  • Yerushalmi 'Avodah Zarah 2:1, thirty Noachian laws are mentioned
  • Yerushalmi 'Avodah Zarah 2:1, In the Messianic age the Noachidæ will accept all the laws of the Torah, although later they will again reject them.

Biblical References

  • Genesis 2:16, declare six commandments that were enjoined upon Adam.
  • Geneis 9:4, a seventh commandment added after the Flood—not to eat flesh that had been cut from a living animal.

Non Rabbinic Jewish Sources

  • Jubilees, vii. 20-29, non standard enumeration of the seven Noachide laws
  • Josephus Ant. 14.7.2, discussing the Sebomenoi

Non-Jewish Sources

  • Christian Book of Acts 15:19-21, council of Jerusalem declaring what appear to be the Noahide laws as obligatory on non-Jewish converts to Christianity.
  • Qur'an 39:23, discussion about the "seven laws" Mesanî
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