Noahidism
Noahidism (/ˈnoʊəhaɪdɪzəm/) or Noachidism (/ˈnoʊəxaɪdɪzəm/) is a monotheistic Jewish religious movement aimed at non-Jews,[9] based upon the Seven Laws of Noah[10] and their traditional interpretations within Orthodox Judaism.
[17] The penalty for violating any of the Noahide laws is discussed in the Talmud,[12] but in practical terms it is subject to the working legal system which is established by the society at large.
[18] The modern Noahide movement was founded in the 1990s by Orthodox Jewish rabbis from Israel,[2][3][7] mainly tied to Chabad-Lubavitch and religious Zionist organizations,[2][3][7] including The Temple Institute.
[3][5][7] The theological basis for the seven commandments of the Noahic Covenant is said to be derived interpretatively from demands addressed to Adam[19] and to Noah,[20] who are believed to be the progenitors of humankind in Judaism, and therefore to be regarded as universal moral laws.
[4] Nevertheless, the majority of rabbinic authorities over the centuries have rejected Maimonides' opinion, and the dominant halakhic consensus has always been that Jews are not required to spread the Noahide laws to non-Jews.
[4] During the 1860s in Western Europe, the idea of Noahidism as a universal Judaic religion for non-Jews was developed by Elijah Benamozegh,[2][42] an Italian Sephardic Orthodox rabbi and renowned Jewish Kabbalist.
[44][45][46] Since the 1990s,[2][3] Orthodox Jewish rabbis from Israel, most notably those affiliated to Chabad-Lubavitch and religious Zionist organizations,[2][3][7] including The Temple Institute,[2][3][7] have set up the modern Noahide movement.
Under the tutelage of Orthodox Jewish rabbis, Filipino "Noahides", as they call themselves, study Torah, observe the Sabbath, and passionately support a form of messianic Zionism.
Filipino Noahides are practicing a new faith that also affirms the superiority of Judaism and Jewish biblical right to the Land of Israel, in line with the aims of the growing messianic Third Temple Movement in Jerusalem.
[3] David Novak, professor of Jewish theology and ethics at the University of Toronto, has denounced the modern Noahide movement by stating that "If Jews are telling Gentiles what to do, it's a form of imperialism".
[48] There were ten initial members who flew to Israel and pledged to uphold the Seven Laws of Noah and to conduct themselves under the authority of the Noahide beth din (religious court) of the nascent Sanhedrin.
[49] The United States Congress, recalling House Joint Resolution 447 and in celebration of Menachem Mendel Schneerson's 80th birthday, proclaimed 4 April 1982, as a "National Day of Reflection".
[50] The United States Congress, recalling House Joint Resolution 173 and in celebration of Menachem Mendel Schneerson's 87th birthday, proclaimed 16 April 1989, and 6 April 1990, as "Education Day, U.S.A."[50] In January 2004, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Mowafak Tarif, met with a representative of Chabad-Lubavitch to sign a declaration calling on all non-Jews in Israel to observe the Noahide laws; the mayor of the Arab city of Shefa-'Amr (Shfaram) also signed the document.
