Israel and Humanity - Status of Noachide converted to Judaism

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§ 3.

Status of Noachide converted to Judaism.

The Talmud Sanhedrin [1] a question rather interesting that is worth mentioning here. he wondered if the Noachide who had converted to Judaism in the known time interval between the commission of his crime and his arrest may be prosecuted under the Mosaic code.

Doctors distinguish between cases in which Jewish law would bring a change in both the procedure and the nature of the sentence and when there would be no change, except perhaps in the procedural details. In the first case, the prosecution, they said, would be declared extinct, while she would remain in the second. Thus a Noachide, guilty of such blasphemy or idolatry, adultery or murder, then that would embrace Judaism, could be sued mosaics, because the procedure the court, the testimony and disclaimer are different as well as the nature of punishment itself. This would in effect now for idolatry and blasphemy, stoning and beheading for murder, instead of strangulation Noachide required by law for these various crimes. As for adultery, the punishment mosaic can be applicable only when the marriage was contracted under the law of Moses.

We confess quite simply that these provisions for the benefit of the neophyte we have at first appeared to be inspired by [2] the common ambition of every religion to consider the conversion as an act capable of remove any dirt or by the desire to increase any kind of encouragement the number of its followers. But we soon had to convince us they really are the consequences, if exaggerated perhaps, but logical, some completely alien to the principles referred selfish and vulgar. Religion Noachide or universal is also a regular state if the eyes of Judaism that can not conceive that he sought to encourage conversions of such condescension. How then could one think not to pursue idolatry and blasphemy, the risk of undermining the foundations of Noachism formally condemning these crimes? The doctors have not hesitated to do, which is a convincing proof of their independence of mind.

But here is a detail which suggests at first less noble concerns. Talmudic law, which decreed in favor of Noachide converted to Judaism, the impunity which we have mentioned, makes an exception for cases where the homicide victim or previously committed adultery would be a Jew, she decided Indeed, the crime must be punished even after conversion of the culprit. Note, however, the reason for this provision. For murder, whether a Jew or a Noachide and pain, it is true, is always the beheading; for adultery is, in the latter case, strangulation which is considered a punishment less infamous. But the rabbis, wrongly or rightly, assume that knowledge of the harsher penalty is enough to stop the culprit in the commission of the crime and they do benefit of that doubt and suspend any further, when the law Moses that he embraces his offense provides for a sentence more severe. Instead, they let the law take its logical course, when the code applicable to Noachide is more rigorous. This proves that such is their thinking is that the same rule is followed in respect of the Israelite. If the legal notice ( atraha ) which is done told him a lighter sentence than he actually incurred, the law refers unpunished if the contrary has been threatened a more rigorous punishment, he did not escape the punishment less severe due to him, in a word, still seeking the certainty that he acted in full knowledge of the facts. [3]


References

  1. , 71 <super> b </super>
  2. Page 692
  3. Page 693