By: Rabbi Yakov D. Cohen
Why are the 7 Noahide Laws Important?
A Moment of Silence
Much is said about freedom of speech, on the right of a person to
express his opinions without fear. However, have you ever thought about
our freedom to be silent? Silence is the ability to stop the mad rush of
life, close your eyes and stop to contemplate by one’s self. Silence
enables us to connect with our ability to think and imagine. This is
what separates us from other life forms.
The World Is Not a Jungle
Let’s take for ourselves a moment of silence: The world is full of
various and conflicting cultures, peoples are still fighting for their
independence and much of the world’s population lives with hunger and
poverty.
We don’t have to go so far from our own experience. How many times
have you encountered in your immediate surroundings lack of respect for
others, acts that are the opposite of truth and justice and man’s lack
of respect for his environment. We ask ourselves, “How can it be, in a
world that is so developed scientifically and human understanding has
reached heights that once were unimaginable, these problems persist?”
These phenomenon have occurred in peoples who achieved the highest
levels in science, philosophy and the arts. One moment of silence is
enough time to come to the conclusion that the human conscience must be
brought into line with a higher standard. Man made values are not enough
to maintain a good and just society. Silence also allows a person to
recognize something higher than himself, to understand that only the
power and choice of the Creator allows the continued existence of the
world.
The End of the Breakdown of Values
Mankind has already come once to a breakdown of values that led to
the destruction of most of the world’s population at the time of the
Great Flood. Afterwards, the Creator commanded Noah and his sons, who
were the kernel from which the human race continued, concerning the
“Seven Noahide Laws”. These seven basic laws contain the basic morals
for maintaining a healthy and just civilization.
This allows for the diversity and cultural plurality of mankind while
uniting in faith in the Creator and with the Seven Noahide Laws
providing a common moral foundation to human existence.
Moses who received the Torah from G-d spread the message of these
Seven Noahide Laws and commanded us to influence all the nations of the
world to accept them. One who keeps these laws because G-d commanded
Moses on Mt.Sinai merits divine reward from G-d for keeping them.
The purpose of these commandments is to make the world should be
settled and not barren, G-d forbid. These laws assure the continued
existence of the world and all its inhabitants. One who abandons these
basic values forfeits in this way his right to exist because his actions
bring about the opposite of settling the world.
Where does this lead?
Is it really possible for a world like this to exist? You would be
amazed to hear that the answer is yes. It is a fact that the same world
in which people worshipped strength and blindly followed rulers in
fighting unnecessary wars has changed drastically since the middle of
the 20th century. Mankind is coming to realization that peace, social
justice and freedom are the values to be championed. The cold war has
ended, atomic weapons were destroyed and many peoples achieved their
independence. There is still a long way to go and much more effort has
to be expended. The trend, however, is clear enough.
The World Unites
This didn’t just randomly happen. The Bible states that the world
will reach perfection at the time of the Redemption. In the days of the
Messiah the nations will all be united in faith in the Creator and the
performance of His commandments.
The prophet Isaiah said, “Then the peoples will speak a pure language
to serve him together”. This procedure will begin with the appearance
of a great leader, the King Moshiach, who deeds on behalf of education,
justice, honesty and establishing faith will influence the entire world,
even subconsciously. Then they will come to realize that the true
strength and power are based on the statement, “In G-d we trust”.
The Personality Behind the Process
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, he is the man that G-d has chosen for this
task. The more than 50 years of his leadership was devoted to working
for education, justice and truth for the entire world. From the east to
the west.
Many leaders have expressed their appreciation of his deeds and
participated in his call for education that is based on faith in the
Creator of the world and his prophet Moses, who gave the world these
commandments. The Rebbe, King Moshiach, has decided that our generation
is the generation of the Redemption and all mankind will march to a new
age. An age without war, hunger, or competition; a world of peace,
mutual assistance economic abundance and high spiritual awareness. A
world where the shining figure of the Moshiach will inspire the entire
world.
Keeping the Seven Noahide laws will hasten the appearance of this wonderful age and assure each individual a place in it.
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