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The Seven Colors of the Rainbow: Torah Ethics for Non-Jews

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I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the seven laws given by G-d to Noah. Rabbi Bindman did a wonderful job of describing each law in great depth. This book is perfect for the serious Noahide or those just curious about what Judaism says of the religious obligations of non-Jews.

Seven Colors of the Rainbow is an easy read while providing a general overview of the history and laws of the covenant given to Noah and his descendants. Each of the seven laws in this ancient and ongoing covenant is tied to one of the colors in the rainbow which God set for a sign, a reminder, between heaven and earth. After reading this book, readers can never again see the rainbow without remembering that, like Noah, all mankind can achieve righteousness through adherence to these seven laws. This is the first book I recommend on the subject.

The seven standards advocated in this book are doubtless all good ones: prohibition of idolatry, prohibition of murder, prohibition of theft, prohibition of sexual promiscuity, prohibition of blasphemy, prohibition of cruelty to animals, in addition to the requirement to form a just government to ensure that these standards are observed by members of society. What could be wrong with that?

These "Seven Laws" [Sheva Mitzvot] are said to be derived from Genesis 9:1-17. But you will have a hard job to find them there! Their real origin is in the *Tosefta* (Sanhedrin 9:4). This work was compiled as late as 180-200CE to parallel and supplement the *Mishnah*. They also appear in the *Gemara*, which was added to the *Mishnah* to form the *Talmud* (see tractate Sanhedrin 56a/b). The *Gemara* was compiled around 500CE.

However, the *Torah* is God's actual Word, as given to the prophet Moses as early as 1500BCE and has authority over any human production. Writings like the *Tosefta*, the *Mishnah*, and the *Gemara* are no more than human commentaries upon the Word of God; they are not the Word of God itself.

Therefore, the so-called "Noahide Laws" entail reading back into God's Word later human deductions. They are not commanded by God to anyone on earth for the present day. Rather they were devised by certain leading Rabbis who, not content with enjoining their 613 Laws upon their captive Jewish audience, also wanted to bring Gentiles under their authority.

If you are a Gentile who has been taught that you can earn your salvation by following these Laws, please note that you are not following precepts commanded by God Himself, but only principles enjoined by human authority.

This does not mean that the seven principles are not good ones in themselves. Indeed, they are. And they may provide you with a better quality of life. But please do be aware that you will not gain any form of everlasting spiritual salvation by following them. God gives no guarantee whatever that those who observe them are assured of a place in the world to come.

Rabbi Yirmeyahu Bindman is a little unclear on the concept of unsolicited emails, know to most as SPAM. From the content of such SPAM received from the Rabbi, I gather that he is full of himself and irritating to boot.