Noachide Reflections?

The following is my response to an article entitled, "Noachide Reflections," that was posted on Rabbi Lazer Brody's website.

Why not remain a Noachide? Well, to be perfectly honest, the Noachide Movement simply doesn't appeal to me for the following reasons:

1. Though the Seven Categories of Noachide Laws pre-date Judaism, they fail to provide one with a genuine sense of security and continuity.

2. Though the Seven Categories of Noachide Laws are universal, they fail to provide one with a sense of belonging because they lack an ethnic, cultural and national identity. This is especially true for modern Americans that come from a White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant lineage.

3. Though the Seven Categories of Noachide Laws provide non-Jews with a vehicle to eschew Pagan, Christian and Messianic idolatry (avodah zarah), they only grant one the status of what amounts to a second-class citizen in the Divine Economy; hence, Noachidism places a limit on one's need for self-esteem.

Is it better to be a big "Noachide" fish in a little pond or a little "Jewish" fish in a big pond? Why be a star in the minor leagues, if you've got the talent to play on a major league team? Which requires more effort in self-nullification (bitul)...? No pain ... no gain, right?

4. Though the Seven Categories of Noachide Laws establish a base-line for ethical conduct, they fail to provide one with a genuine path for achieving moral and spiritual perfection; hence, Noachidism places a limit on one's ability to self-actualize.

5. Though the Seven Categories of Noachide Laws can help non-Jews to obtain a share in the World to Come, they don't enable one to transcend in the Here-and-Now.

Security, belonging, self-esteem, self-actualization and transcendence are all part of the hierarchy of needs that Dr. Abraham Maslow states that all humans desire and must obtain in order to be truly fulfilled. Sadly, the Noachide Movement falls short on all counts, whereas Judaism provides a path (derech) for one to be all that they can and should be in this life.

This is why so many Noachides opt to convert to Judaism, IMO. Who knows? Perhaps these Seven Categories of Noachide Laws were always meant to be mere stepping stones for the Chasidim of the Nations to use. If we all contain a Divine Spark, then it's the destiny of each Spark to be elevated and return to the Source, no? Which is better -- the short and long way or the long and short way?



See further, "Does the Angel Tap Everyone On The Lip?"