Can a Gentile study Torah?

Someone asked me about the specifics of the principles about the warnings against studying “Torah” as is given by Jews from ancient time. Now, I already know that my opinion is worth almost nothing to most, and I may be over-optimistic in that view. But I do enjoy writing about this sort of stuff and, again, I put too much effort into the response, so I’m making an article out of it.

Enjoy? (Yes, I do include the question mark.)

---

You asking me is just adding an opinion from a guy who doesn’t even claim to be an expert. Anyway, since I like the topic, I’ll respond, but not according to your question. If it gets long enough, I’ll make an article out of it.

You ask for specifics; I deal with general principles. And I get those general principles from the Talmud, the Bible, and Maimonides, the sections that speak specifically about Gentile law and principles. For me, those general principles help me navigate the specifics. I’m also influenced by a teaching from rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch that I quote on this blog (https://hesedyahu.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/r-hirschs-answer-to-the-jewish-question-why-wouldnt-you-convert/).

The Talmud, Sanhedrin 59a says,

R. Johanan said: A gentile who studies the Torah deserves death, for it is written, Moses commanded us a law for an inheritance; (Devarim [Deut] 33:4) it is our inheritance, not theirs. Then why is this not included in the Noachian laws? — On the reading morasha [an inheritance] he steals it; on the reading me’orasah [betrothed], he is guilty as one who violates a betrothed maiden, who is stoned. An objection is raised: R. Meir used to say. Whence do we know that even a gentile who studies the Torah is as a High Priest? From the verse, [Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments:] which, if man do, he shall live in them. Priests, Levites, and Israelites are not mentioned, but men: from here you learn that even a gentile who studies the Torah is as a High Priest! — That refers to their own seven laws.

You can find that on halakhah.com, but a more explanatory version can be found at sefaria.org.

For me, the evidence that rabbi Johanan uses, Devarim [Deut] 33:4, really hits me: the “Torah,” the 613 commandments and their tradition, belongs to the Jews, not the world. It reminds me of two things: Shemot [Exodus] 31, where gentiles try to keep some form of sabbath when God says it’s a special sign between him and Israel; the book “the seven laws of Noah” by Aaron Lichtenstein, which points out, rightly I believe, that when we Gentiles keep a certain law, like “don’t worship idols,” we don’t have the same basis for that commandment as a Jew, a Jew keeping it because it was commanded to Israel by Moses in the 613 laws, but we Gentiles keep it because it was commanded to Adam and Noah in the seven laws. [Later additions: It also reminds me of the 10 commandments, how christians would teach that this is the moral principle for the world, when in fact, according to the Bible itself, those were the special statements for the unique pact and covenant between God and Israel, not the world (Shemot [Exodus] 34:28).] The fact is that the “Torah” (meaning what Moses meant in Dev 33:4) is theirs, not ours. I’m also reminded of the last verses of Tehillim [Psalms] 147, where the writer said that God had given laws and commandments to Israel and hadn’t treated any other nation like that.

So in my mind, the “Torah” is theirs and the seven laws are ours. So we can study and delve into the seven laws and parts of Jewish tradition that pertain to them because it’s ours, and the Jews have been keeping custody of it, so they’d have the pertinent info. So anything that helps a Gentile know and keep the seven laws, directly relevant to our keeping of the seven laws, is free game. But whatever’s not that and focuses more about Israel’s law is not for us to study and delve into.

I’ll refer to Maimonides:

A gentile who studies the Torah is obligated to die. They should only be involved in the study of their seven commandments.

That’s from Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars (Melachim uMilchamot), chapter 10, law 9. You can find that on chabad.org or sefaria.org.

Again, there is a difference between something called “Torah” and “the seven commandments.” Also, both texts, Maimonides’ and the Talmud, refer not simply to reading but to studying which seems to be something more in-depth, which gives me guidance on how to treat other written and oral traditions that are not part of the seven, even moral principles that are in the “Torah” or the Jewish Bible but are not part of the seven.

So, here’s how I see it, in terms of general principles.

When it comes to the seven laws, the study of those laws, a Gentile can go as deep as he wants. Any Gentile! He can both understand them and even go into the mystical portion of them, although I don’t see the point and I can see issues since it may start to blur with the Jewish Torah. When it comes to anything that is not the seven laws, which belongs to the Jews, then a Gentile, if given permission by the Jews or the text is just easily accessible (like the Bible), then a Gentile can read them on a superficial level. A Gentile can learn the superficial level of principles that seem moral and rational and universal. But the stuff that is not part of the seven, that doesn’t relate to the seven laws, then a Gentile shouldn’t study it, put any effort into getting into the depth of understanding it. Leave that to those to whom it belongs: the Jews.

In addition, I remember a video done by rabbi Moshe Weiner which can be found either at https://asknoah.org/video/message-for-noahides-from-rabbi-moshe-weiner or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ZIE_Tfyns. Even when it comes to reading (not studying) stuff that’s Jewish but not for Gentiles, or their mystical stuff, I think there is good argument that even that is a poor use of time. I’m not talking about the easy access stuff, like the Jewish Bible. I think, agreeing with rabbi Weiner, that a Gentile should become proficient with his seven laws, become a master of that, and also – and this is my addition – with general wisdom and self awareness, before he starts reading into other parts of Jewish tradition. Why would a Gentile read the Mishnah or the parts of the Talmud that are irrelevant to him? Why the various other texts that are irrelevant? Instead of getting more acquainted with foreign ways, the Jewish ways, why doesn’t a Gentile get conversant with his own community or current affairs that affect him, with practices which may be of benefit to his family and those around him? What about understanding the laws of his land (maybe to judge whether they are good or bad) or practicing kindness and charity to the poor in his community? The ins and outs of the law of theft and murder and idolatry, in the seven laws, and trying to figure out what exactly is our law of Justice are projects in and of themselves. What’s the point in getting into Jewish business and Jewish affairs? The current tyranny for me is much more relevant than reading a passage of Mishnah or getting into kabbalah. Learning the scientific method and how to reason clearly and to speak and communicate effectively is way more important for me that the Jewish stuff. Don’t we have enough work to do, enough to keep us occupied, without getting distracted by the mess of the Jewish world, all their opinions and their traditions which are, by right, theirs?

So these are the general principles about dealing with Jewish tradition that is not part of the seven laws as far as I understand so far. I know I’ve also expressed other opinions of mine as well. I hope it’s in some way useful to you. I definitely enjoyed writing it. So yes, I’ll make it an article. Thank you!