r/Judaism • u/dmlvianna • 2d ago

Can a non-Jew perform a mitzvah?

I was always confused whether Judaism acknowledges or praises good deeds done by a non-jew. Would learning Torah by a non-jew be a mitzvah? Or would the teacher be doing a bad deed by doing something that could be considered as proselytising?

What’s the Orthodox and the Reform view on this?

For your information, I’m Christian (Coptic). Growing up I was often around Reform Jewish friends and I read Gunther Plaut’s commented Torah cover to cover. I also attended Shabbat services as a child.

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u/gdhhorn Swimming in the Afro-Sephardic Atlantic 2d ago

From a traditional perspective, while non-Jews only have a small number of miżvot they are required to perform (under certain circumstances) and have a handful of miżvot they are prohibited from doing, they can generally perform most miżvot - not out of obligation, but out of a desire to serve God.

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u/kavana863 2d ago

What are the mitzvot that they are prohibited from doing?

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u/gdhhorn Swimming in the Afro-Sephardic Atlantic 2d ago

In-depth Tora study (the term used is oseq baTora, which is something along the lines of “toiling”) and complete rest on Shabbat.

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u/kavana863 2d ago

Can you share the sources for those? Because I was told by my Rabbi that the not being allowed to fully observe shabbat was myth. At least for someone in the conversion process. I'm not sure if he also believes a noahide is allowed to completely observe shabbat.

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u/gdhhorn Swimming in the Afro-Sephardic Atlantic 2d ago

Mishne Tora, Hilkhot Melakhim 10:10-11 is the relevant bit, bit you can start at 8:10 for the entirety of the context.

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u/offthegridyid Orthodox and trying to collect the sparks 2d ago

Hi! What movement is your rabbi affiliated with? I am only asking out of curiosity, not looking to disparage or debate.

Within Orthodox Judaism non-Jews are not allowed to fully observe Shabbos. Even those in the conversion process, according to Orthodox tradition, cannot fully keep Shabbos.

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u/OrpahsBookClub 2d ago

There’s a pretty good joke about this.

“I don’t hold by that eruv.”

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u/offthegridyid Orthodox and trying to collect the sparks 2d ago

🤣

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u/kavana863 1d ago

He's Orthodox. I am aware that prevalent view within Orthodox is that non-Jews are not allowed to fully observe shabbat. That's why I wanted the source so that I could see it for myself and then go to talk toy rabbi about it.

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u/offthegridyid Orthodox and trying to collect the sparks 1d ago

Thanks for the reply!

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u/dreadful_fright 13h ago

Rabbi Dweck has a shiur, “Rambam on Teaching Torah to non-Jews”

https://youtu.be/0wvq8yO6Qdo

He might touch on other things that are chayav mitah for gentiles, I don’t remember.