Noahide Laws

The Noahide Laws or Seven Laws of Noah (Hebrew: שבע מצוות בני נח‎ Sheva Mitzvot B'nei Noach), are a set of commandments which, according to Rabbinic Judaism, were given by God as a binding set of laws for the "children of Noah" – that is, all of humanity.

According to Jewish tradition, non-Jews who adhere to these laws are said to be followers of Noahidism and regarded as righteous gentiles, who are assured of a place in Olam Haba (עולם הבא‎, the world to come), the final reward of the righteous.

The seven Noahide laws as traditionally enumerated are the following:

• 1. Not to worship idols.
• 2. Not to curse God.
• 3. To establish courts of justice.
• 4. Not to commit murder.
• 5. Not to commit adultery, bestiality, or sexual immorality (porneia)
• 6. Not to steal.
• 7. Not to eat flesh torn from a living animal.

The earliest complete rabbinic version of the seven laws can be found in the Tosefta (late 2nd cent. CE).

According to the Talmud, the Noahide Laws apply to all humanity. In Judaism, בני נח B'nei Noah (Hebrew, "Descendants of Noah", "Children of Noah") refers to all of humankind. The Talmud also states: "Righteous people of all nations have a share in the world to come". Any non-Jew who lives according to these laws is regarded as one of "the righteous among the gentiles".

Proselytism

Historically, Rabbinic Judaism claims that non-Jews are not obliged to adhere to all the remaining laws of the Torah; in the Last Judgment they will be judged according to the Noahide Laws. Since non-Jews do not need to follow the Mosaic Torah in order to be saved, Rabbinic Judaism was not a missionary religion seeking for converts.

Proselytism was allowed only under limited circumstances.

There are two kinds of proselytes in Rabbinic Judaism: ger tzedek (righteous proselytes, proselytes of righteousness, religious proselyte, devout proselyte) and ger toshav (resident proselyte, proselytes of the gate, limited proselyte, half-proselyte).

A "righteous proselyte" is a gentile who has converted to Judaism, is bound to all the doctrines and precepts of the Jewish religion, and is considered a full member of the Jewish people. The proselyte is circumcised as an adult (milah l'shem giur), if male, and immerses in a mikvah to formally effect the conversion.

A "gate proselyte" is a resident alien who lives in the Land of Israel under Jewish Rule and follows some of the Jewish customs. They are not required to be circumcised nor to comply with the whole of the Torah. They are bound only to conform to the Seven Laws of Noah (do not worship idols, do not blaspheme God's name, do not murder, do not commit fornication (immoral sexual acts), do not steal, do not tear the limb from a living animal, and do not fail to establish rule of law) to be assured of a place in the World to come.