- All the Questions
thanks and more on Noachides and good Bible translations
Question
Hi Rabbi Ari Shvat,
Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it. Could you tell me what the 7 Noachide mitzvot are? I can of course Google it but I would like to know from an actual Rabbi. Is this in the Torah? Does Moses or Abraham say that this is what us gentiles should do?
And is idealism a bad or good thing or more of a naive thing? I couldn’t detect whether you were being genuine or sarcastic or not - forgive me for being paranoid!
Also, you know where it says in Genesis, "The treee of the knowledge of good and evil?" Well, I read somewhere a literal Hebrew translation and it translated "good and evil" as "functional and disfunctional" which I actually find more helpful. What do you think? Could you tell me if our "Christian" translations of your Torah are actually accurate or have I been reading inaccuracies all my life which just lead to confusion? I know a bit about language myself having read French and German at university and I know how much one word can change the whole meaning of an idea. Are there any translations of the orignal Hebrew which you feel are more accurate to the originals than others and if so, could you direct me to them so that I can finally read some truth for a change and not a bunch of vague lies?
Answer
I wasn’t at all sarcastic- idealism is what life is about!
When gentiles fulfill the seven Noachide commandments (adultery, idolatry, murder, not eating flesh taken from a live animal, not cursing God, stealing, and making sure there is a justice system in your locale), in all of their details, and supporting the Chosen People of Israel (for example, against their enemies like Iran), one fulfills that which God wants of them, and has a share in the world to come. These are alluded to in the Torah of Moses, and detailed in the Talmud. If you’d like, you can become an official authorized Noachide by declaring your acceptance of the above before a certified rabbinical religious court (usually done in Israel).
All translations of the Bible are inevitably problematic, for they “lock” you into one possible commentary without the multi-faceted meanings, and if it’s a non-Jewish translation, it’s missing the Oral Tradition. Nevertheless, the best translation is found at: http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp
For guidance, you might want to see an interesting website which may help you and provide you with a framework and guiding rabbi for your Noachide activities, such as:
http://www.en.noahideworldcenter.org/
http://asknoah.org/affiliated-communities.

Is it necessary to learn Hebrew?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 10, 5783

Davening alone
Rabbi David Sperling | Kislev 28, 5783
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Dieting
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 11, 5780

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

Fasting or giving Tzedaka on seeing Sefer Torah fallen
Shevat 7, 5771

Orla
Shevat 19, 5771

Explaining the term "Litvish"
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 17 Cheshvan 5766

The Latest Time to do Birkat HaLevana
Various Rabbis | 8 Tevet 5764

Popcorn at the cinema
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 8, 5773

No-wedding days
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 20, 5772

Organization
Various Rabbis | Shevat 10, 5783

Follow-up question on names
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 9, 5783
How to split expenses for a group event
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Shevat 9, 5783
