A Catholic Perspective on the Noahide Restriction of Non-Jewish Holy Days: Validation and Critique of Jewish Exclusivity (Code Red)
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This article is "Code Red": Idolatry
A Catholic Perspective on the Noahide Restriction of Non-Jewish Holy Days: Validation and Critique of Jewish Exclusivity
From a Catholic perspective, rooted in the teachings of the Church as articulated by the Council of Trent, the Roman Catechism (1566), and papal encyclicals such as Pope Pius XI’s Divini Redemptoris (1937) and Pope John Paul II’s Veritatis Splendor (1993), the celebration of holy days reflects humanity’s call to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23–24; CCC 1163). The Noahide Laws, derived from Genesis 9:1–7 and codified in the Talmud (Sanhedrin 56a–b) and by Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 9:1), are promoted by some Jews as a universal moral code for non-Jews, emphasizing seven commandments, including the prohibition of idolatry. In The Rainbow Covenant, Michael E. Dallen asserts that non-Jewish Noahides are forbidden from creating their own Sabbaths or holy days, reserving such practices for Jews due to their unique covenantal relationship with God. This essay validates Dallen’s claim by examining its basis in Jewish tradition, then criticizes the Noahide system for its exclusivity, which denies non-Jews the freedom to establish meaningful religious observances, reflecting a form of Jewish supremacism that undermines universal justice. It contrasts this with the Catholic understanding of worship, which embraces diverse expressions of faith while affirming Christ’s universal lordship.
Dallen’s Quote on Noahide Restrictions
The following quote from Michael E. Dallen’s The Rainbow Covenant articulates the prohibition on non-Jews creating their own Sabbaths or holy days under Noahide Law:
Remember that man-made religion is a contradiction in terms, and that misappropriating what isn't yours is vile. Israel has a special relationship to Shabbat — and to the other Hebrew holy days — and people outside of Revolutionary Israel, unconnected to the whole of Torah, must respect it. B'nai Noah may not create artificial Sabbaths nor invent phony holy days for themselves. They stand in a different relation than Israel to Shabbat — it's simply part of God's plan.
Source: Dallen, Michael E. (2003). The Rainbow Covenant. Light Catcher Books & The Rainbow Covenant Foundation, p. 118.
This passage underscores the exclusive right of Jews to observe the Sabbath and other holy days, framing non-Jewish attempts to establish similar observances as a form of idolatry or theft of Israel’s covenantal privileges.
Validation of Dallen’s Claim
Dallen’s assertion that non-Jewish Noahides may not create their own Sabbaths or holy days is consistent with traditional Jewish interpretations of the Noahide Laws, as articulated in the Talmud and rabbinic commentary. The Noahide Laws, outlined in Sanhedrin 56a–b, include a prohibition against idolatry, which some authorities extend to unauthorized religious practices (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 10:6). The Sabbath, commanded in the Torah (Exodus 20:8–11), is a sign of Israel’s covenant with God (Exodus 31:16–17), exclusive to the Jewish people (Encyclopaedia Judaica, “Sabbath,” 1906, https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12962-sabbath). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 58b) states that non-Jews observing the Sabbath or creating their own holy days usurp Israel’s unique role, potentially violating the Noahide prohibition against idolatry by inventing unauthorized worship (Rashi on Sanhedrin 58b). Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 10:9) reinforces this, prohibiting non-Jews from adopting Jewish rituals or creating new ones, as their role is to follow the seven Noahide commandments without additional religious observances.
Dallen’s claim (The Rainbow Covenant, p. 118) aligns with this framework, emphasizing that Jews, as “betrothed” to God, have a special relationship with the Sabbath and holy days, which non-Jews must respect. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a key Noahide advocate, similarly taught that non-Jews should not mimic Jewish practices, reinforcing their distinct spiritual status (Likkutei Sichot, Vol. 26). The 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia (“Noahide Laws,” https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9679-laws-noachian) confirms that Noahides are restricted to their seven commandments, with additional rituals viewed as presumptuous. Thus, Dallen’s prohibition reflects a well-established Jewish tradition, validated by Talmudic and rabbinic sources.
Critique: Jewish Exclusivity and Supremacism in Noahide Law
While Dallen’s claim is consistent with Jewish tradition, it reveals a troubling exclusivity in the Noahide system, which denies non-Jews the freedom to create their own holy days and reflects Jewish supremacism. This restriction undermines the Noahide ideal of just courts (Sanhedrin 56a) and raises ethical concerns from a Catholic perspective.
- Exclusivity as Supremacism: By prohibiting non-Jews from establishing Sabbaths or holy days (The Rainbow Covenant, p. 118), Noahide Law elevates Jews as the sole custodians of sacred time, relegating non-Jews to a spiritually inferior status. The Talmud’s view that non-Jews observing the Sabbath “deserve death” (Sanhedrin 58b) underscores this hierarchy, implying that only Jews have a divine mandate for such worship. This mirrors other supremacist teachings, such as Yebamoth 63a, which claims Gentile blessings serve Israel, or Baba Bathra 10b, which deems non-Jewish charity sinful. Schneerson’s assertion that non-Jews exist to serve Jews (Likkutei Sichot, Vol. 2) further taints this exclusivity, suggesting non-Jewish spiritual expression is illegitimate. Catholic theology, rooted in Gaudium et Spes 29 (1965, reflecting pre-Vatican II principles), rejects such hierarchies, affirming that all persons can worship God authentically (Acts 17:24–28).
- Denial of Spiritual Freedom: The prohibition on non-Jewish holy days (The Rainbow Covenant, p. 118) stifles the human impulse to honor God through sacred times, which Catholics view as a universal right (Catechism 2174–2176). The Church teaches that holy days, like Sunday, reflect God’s rest and redemption (Genesis 2:2–3; CCC 1166), open to all who seek Him. By restricting non-Jews to a minimal moral code without creative worship, Noahide Law denies them full participation in divine worship, contradicting the Noahide justice ideal (Sanhedrin 56a). The Roman Catechism (Part III, on the Third Commandment) encourages all to sanctify time, without ethnic exclusivity, highlighting Noahide Law’s failure to uphold spiritual equality.
- Injustice in Noahide Courts: The Noahide call for just courts (Sanhedrin 56a) is undermined by this rule, as it imposes unequal spiritual obligations. While Jews enjoy the Sabbath and festivals (Exodus 20:8–11; Leviticus 23), non-Jews are barred from similar practices (Sanhedrin 58b), creating a discriminatory system. This aligns with other disparities, such as harsher penalties for non-Jews in feticide (The Rainbow Covenant, pp. 196–197) or indirect murder (Sanhedrin 77a). Catholic justice, rooted in Veritatis Splendor (1993), insists on equal treatment, ensuring all can worship without restriction (CCC 2104–2109). The Noahide system’s exclusivity fails to deliver true justice, as courts should protect universal rights, not enforce ethnic privileges (Encyclopaedia Judaica, “Justice,” 1906, https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8929-justice).
Questions and Implications
Dallen’s claim raises critical questions: Why is it worse for non-Jews to create holy days than for Jews? Are punishments imposed for non-Jewish Sabbaths? Is it a capital offense? The Talmud (Sanhedrin 58b) suggests that non-Jews observing the Sabbath face death, as it violates the idolatry prohibition (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 10:9). While specific penalties for inventing holy days are less clear, the principle of exclusion (The Rainbow Covenant, p. 118) implies severe consequences, potentially fines or worse, depending on court discretion (Sanhedrin 56a). This punitive approach contrasts with Catholic freedom, where diverse liturgical calendars (e.g., Roman, Byzantine) reflect cultural worship without penalty (CCC 1204). The Noahide restriction, by denying non-Jews this freedom, perpetuates a supremacist bias that questions the fairness of its justice system.
Catholic Justice: Universal and Inclusive
Catholic moral theology offers a fairer framework, affirming that all persons can establish holy days to worship God, reflecting the universal call to holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16; CCC 2013). The Catechism (CCC 1163–1167) teaches that Sunday and feast days, like Christmas or Easter, are universal invitations to honor God, open to all cultures. The Church’s liturgical diversity, as seen in Eastern and Western rites, embraces varied expressions of faith, rejecting exclusivity (Gaudium et Spes 58). Unlike Noahide Law’s death penalty for unauthorized worship (Sanhedrin 58b), Catholic justice avoids punishing religious expression, addressing idolatry through evangelization (Acts 17:22–31; CCC 2112–2114).
Catholic courts, guided by canon law, ensure equal accountability for sins like blasphemy, without ethnic discrimination (Code of Canon Law, Canon 1369). The Roman Catechism (Part III, on the Second Commandment) condemns blasphemy universally, with penalties like excommunication applied equally (CCC 2148). This contrasts with Noahide Law’s privileging of Jewish worship (The Rainbow Covenant, p. 118), which undermines justice by restricting non-Jewish spiritual freedom. The Church’s inclusive ethic, rooted in Christ’s universal lordship (Philippians 2:11), fosters just courts that honor all persons’ dignity (Gaudium et Spes 29), surpassing Noahidism’s discriminatory framework.
Conclusion: Catholic Resistance to Noahide Exclusivity
Michael E. Dallen’s claim that non-Jewish Noahides may not create Sabbaths or holy days (The Rainbow Covenant, p. 118) is validated by Talmudic tradition (Sanhedrin 58b), but it reflects Jewish supremacism, denying non-Jews spiritual freedom and undermining Noahide justice (Sanhedrin 56a). Questions—why restrict non-Jewish worship, what are the punishments, is it death?—reveal a system that privileges Jews, contradicting equality. Catholic justice, affirming universal worship (Catechism 1163) and equal dignity (Gaudium et Spes 29), ensures all can honor God without penalty, offering a fairer ethic. Catholics must resist Noahide Law’s exclusivity, proclaiming Christ’s universal salvation (Acts 4:12) and the Church’s mission to uphold justice (Matthew 28:19). Trusting in Our Lady, we defend the imago Dei against supremacist systems, affirming the Gospel’s call to universal worship (Romans 12:1).
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