Healing Well of Miriam

B”H

When Bnai Noah was acknowledged by the rabbis of Israel in 1990, this was also a recognition of a point of time in history—a crucial point in the Redemption process.  On the Cosmic Clock,[1] the calendar year 1990 parallels the late afternoon of the Sixth Day.   Similar to last minute preparations hastening in anticipation of sundown before Shabbat, this is reflected on a cosmic level in world events, as time rushes toward the end of the Sixth Millennium and the ultimate Redemption.  Words of the Prophets are rapidly becoming the reality of our own time.  The Prophet Isaiah spoke of Israel being a Light unto the Nations.[2]   He also said the Third Temple will be a House of Prayer for all peoples.[3]  From these two references alone, it is clear that Redemption will not happen without the people of the Nations; indeed, the Children of Noah are an integral part of this process.  In 1990, rabbis from Israel acted on this realization.

A contention along the way has been what is required of, or permitted to, the Bnai Noah.  Some people in the Jewish world have enthusiastically embraced these people and recognized them as “like ger toshav (resident stranger);” others have expressed doubts, as this has challenged the accepted norms in the Jewish world.  Over the years since 1990, there have been disagreements concerning what Noahides may (or may not) study or practice, even among the supporters of the movement.  Some say all Torah study, as well as, any mitzvah a Ben Noah wants to take on in a serious manner is open to him.  Others disagree, insisting that any access of a non-Jewish person to Torah and mitzvot is categorized by Talmudic sources as no different from that of an idolator.  This opinion does not consider the status of Bnai Noah as anything other than, at best, one in the process of conversion to Judaism.  Incidentally, I have heard that 85 percent of people who start the conversion process fail, so what happens to these people?  Are they supposed to return to their former religion, which they have had the insight to leave?  Do they just fade into some non-descript limbo of questions, with no one to answer truthfully?  A real danger of the failure of conversion is that the person will feel resentment and anger from the perceived rejection.  While the halacha states a person may be turned away three times, some people have been rejected up to eleven times.  This is a clear violation of the halacha for conversion, and such a lack of care for a person’s feelings does cause damage—even if that person does end up converting.  What about the rest…those who fall out of the process?

Many Noahide groups have formed over the years to learn together.  While there have been unavoidable attempts to organize and form another Jewish-type of religion, something familiar and comfortable, those attempts have never quite worked out.  Over the years, there have been speculations about the purpose of Bnai Noah—to form courts of Law, for instance—yet while that may be a future model, those ideas have not solidified at this point.  This movement has not been immune to ambitions of egos, but fortunately, most of those attempts have amounted to little long-term realization.  I truly think this consciousness is being safeguarded by Heaven for a higher purpose, one whose fullness is yet unfolding.

The Bnai Noah looked to the rabbis for direction.  Many of these people are serious seekers of Truth, who had spent long years in their former religions, only to realize there was something missing…something they found in Torah learning.  I was amazed to see so many men involved in this Torah learning—men who had never had any interest in church attendance.  This Torah learning is different from the Bible study in churches, in that THIS is the Law of God.  Even without converting to Judaism, many are achieving a spiritual depth and a closeness to Hashem that is often lacking in any formal religion.

I have talked about transcending religion of Man to go straight into God.  This very lofty notion has been tried many times, only to devolve into yet another religious cult, just missing the objective, however well-intentioned initially.  The thing that has been lacking over the ages has been a consciousness of Universal Torah Law.  As Bnai Noah learn Torah, beginning with the basics of Universal Law, it is they who will be able to hold this line in the world.  For as they learn these Laws—to do and not to do—they are getting a deep understanding that has the power to transcend the words and align their individual souls with their Higher Soul.  This is the Universal Consciousness that is above religion, and this is where Redemption is taking all Mankind.

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[1] https://healingwellofmiriam.com/2023/10/24/thoughts-of-redemption-the-cosmic-clock/

[2] Isaiah 42:6.

[3] Isaiah 56:7.