NOAHIDE TOOLS OF TORAH

Category: TREASURE CHEST OF TORAH WISDOM
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The journey of Noahide Torah study is endless in depth and has no destination.  You will realize this when your very essence proclaims, "the more I learn, the less I know"!  Before you make this proclamation remember that it is a mitzvot for a Noahide to study the Noahide Laws and apply them in every aspect of their life.  After you make that proclamation you will realize and appreciate why it is a mitzvot for a Noahide to study the Noahide Laws and apply them in every aspect of your life.  The study of Torah is what gives us our awe of the Creator.  The more we study the more awe we gain.

Below is a list of books recommended by the poskim who researched the Noahide Laws & Life Cycle Course taught by Talmudic University of Florida  As the Rav's make further recommendations, we will add them to this list.  Any of these will add wisdom to you on the endless journey. 

Chumash (Torah) & Nakh (Prophets & Writings)

  • The Living Torah by - Author: Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
  • Chumash (Artscroll Item# STOH) – Bilingual edition of the Torah with an anthology of the classic commentaries.
  • Tanakh (Artscroll Item# STGS) – Bilingual edition of the entire Hebrew scriptures with minimal commentary and reference.
  • Midrash Rabbah: Bereshis & Noach (Artscroll Kleinman Ed. Item# MRBR1) – Moral, ethical, and homiletic insights into the subtle nuances of the Torah’s narrative. Lots of material relevant to Noahides.
  • Rashi’s Commentary on the Torah (Artscroll Sapirstein Ed. Item# SRAHS) – Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki’s commentary lays draws upon the entire corpus of Midrash, Talmud, to explain the events of the Torah. Although Rashi writes many times “I only come to explain the plain meaning of the text,” his commentary does much more than deal with “plain meanings.” Rashi is viewed as the “starting point” for any question on the Chumash.
  • Ramban’s Commentary on the Torah (Artscroll Item# SRBNS) – in the 13th century Ramban (Rabbi Moshe Bar Nachman, also called Nachmanides) wrote a commentary analyzing Rashi’s remarks and considering alternative explanations. Reading Rashi alongside the Ramban really conveys the “whole picture.”
  • The Torah Anthology: Beginnings [Beraishis & Noah] (Moznaim Item#930153-2) – an 18th century commentary by Rabbi Yaakov Culi. Originally entitled Me’am Loez, it weaves together commentary, law, ethics, and mysticism to flesh out a practical understanding of the Torah. It is also very enjoyable to read.
  • Artscroll Tanach Series: Bereshis/Genesis, In 2 Volumes (Artscroll Item #BERH) - In depth commentary on the book of Bereshis/Genesis. Excellent for study.

Talmud

  • Tractate Sanhedrin (Artscroll Schottenstein Ed. Vol. 48 Item# DTSA2) – These pages contain most of the Talmud’s discussion of the Noahide laws. Remember that not all of the opinions brought in the Talmud are actual law. Knowing and deriving the Talmud’s conclusions is a skill that must be It is important to learn this with a study partner or someone who has established skills in learning Talmud.

 

Mishneh Torah - Maimonides compiled the first complete statement of all Torah law from the Talmud, Midrashim, and other texts. It a monumental work, yet not without its flaws. Notably, Maimonides rarely quoted his sources or explained his rationales. Torah scholars have spent centuries reconstructing his reasoning and method for understanding the Torah. Of course, this may be exactly what Maimonides wanted. Although the halacha, actual law, does not always follow Maimonides, his writings are essential for both Jews and Noahides desiring to know God’s expectations of them.

 

  • 1: Yesodei HaTorah – Foundatons of the Torah (Moznaim Item# 963669-1) – The foundations of Torah belief.
  • 2: Hilchos Deos - Attributes (Moznaim Item# 963669-2) – Human traits and qualities.
  • 3: Avodas Kokhavim – Idolatry & Idolaters (Moznaim Item# 963669-3) – Laws of idolatry & idolaters.
  • 4: Laws of Teshuvah (Moznaim Item# 963669-4) – Principles of repentance.
  • 26: Sefer Nezikin – Monetary Laws (Moznaim Item# 963669-26) – Monetary and civil law.
  • 29: Sefer Shoftim – Kings & Judges (Moznaim Item# 963669-29) – includes Maimnonides’s writings on the Noahide Laws.

 

Noahide Laws

 

Prayer

 

Faith, Belief, and Thought

  • The Way of God by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Feldheim Item# 141 – Note that there are full sized and compact editions available) – Classic exposition on the fundamentals of Torah thought and belief.
  • The Handbook of Jewish Thought, Vol. 1 & 2 (Moznaim Item# 505075-1 & 505075-2) – Excellent compendia of the basics of Torah belief. Though geared toward Jews, it contains much material relevant to Noahides as
  • The Universal Garden of Emunah by Rabbi Shalom Arush
  • Restore My Soul (Moznaim Item# 58620) – Rav Nachaman of Breslov’s writings on repentance translated by Rabbi Aryeh
  • Outpouring of the Soul (Moznaim Item# 61578) – Rav Nachaman of Breslov’s writings on prayer translated by Rabbi Aryeh
  • Our Amazing World (Artscroll Item# WOWH) – Seeing God’s wonders in the world around
  • Our Wondrous World (Artscroll Item# AMAH) – Sequel to Our Amazing World

 

Other Laws and Practices

 Interpersonal

  • The Laws of Interpersonal Relationships (Artscroll Item #JTVH)

Proper Speech

  • Chofetz Chaim Lesson a Day (Artscroll Item# LADH)
  • Chofetz Chaim: The Family Lesson a Day (Artscroll Item# FLADH)
  • Positive Word Power (Artscroll Item# PWPH)

Business

Blessings

  • The Laws of Brachos (Artscroll Item# LOBH)

Family

  • The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Parents (Artscroll Item# FIFH)
  • My Father, My Mother & Me (Artscroll Item# MFMMH)

Sickness

  • Visiting the Sick (Artscroll Item# VTSH)

Charity

  • The Laws of Tzedakah & Maaser (Artscroll Item# LOTH)
  • The Tzedakah Treasury (Artscroll Item# TZTH)

Teshuvah/Repentance

  • Returnity, by R’ Tal Zwecker (Menucha Publishers)
  • The Power of Teshuvah, by R’ Heshy Kleinman (Artscroll Item# POTP)
  • A Touch of Purity, by R’ Yechiel Spero (Artscroll Item# TPUEI)
  • Teshuvah: Restoring Life

 

Polemics

Hebrew

  • HaYesod (Feldheim Item# 1734)
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