Can Noahide study matters related to creation like first day of creation, commentaries of Ramban, Rashi and others? If so what are limits to such study and how much can one speculate about it?
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Do you have a reason to think that there are any restrictions?– A LCommented Aug 17, 2016 at 5:47
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1Sanhedrin 59a R. Johanan said: A heathen who studies the Torah deserves death– W NguyenCommented Aug 19, 2016 at 22:55
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But then I saw some chabad article there is connection between 7 laws and seven days of creation which sugest it might be relevant for Noahide as well.– W NguyenCommented Aug 19, 2016 at 23:16
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1@WNguyen - I wouldn't throw a Noahide into the category of heathen. A "heathen" seems to be someone who is a heretic, or one who believes in a foreign G-d. I think it is acceptable for him to study the Creation study, with Rashi and all the other commentaries included!– ezraCommented Sep 21, 2016 at 3:27
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1@WNguyen - You are actually incorrect because the Gemoro actually says: עובד כוכבים שעוסק בתורה חייב מיתה שנאמר (דברים לג, ד) תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה לנו מורשה ולא להם. Note that "Oved Kochavim" means a worshipper of stars, not a Gentile or Noahide.– ezraCommented Sep 21, 2016 at 3:29
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1 Answer
According to Sefer Sheva Mitzvot Hashem on the subject, to study the two Torah parashios (bereshis and Noah) are basically related to Noahide Laws in general. See there on Yesodos ha-emunah, perek 5:3 (rough translation below):
It is permitted for a gentile to read the Tanakh, even with traditional expositions of the pshat in order to correctly understant its pesukim.
The limits of such study is that he still continues forbidden to delve into study of its text, trying to arrive at inner explanations of the verses (since pshat oriented commentary doesn't do that). See hagahot yavetz on sanhedrin 59a.
answered Sep 21, 2016 at 2:17
