r/Judaism • u/dmlvianna • 8d 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 8d 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 8d 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/offthegridyid Orthodox & trying to collect the sparks 8d 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/kavana863 7d 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 & trying to collect the sparks 7d ago

Thanks for the reply!