Do Non-Jews Have Commandments?
Jews are known to have 613 commandments. How many commandments do non-Jews have? Can they earn a place in the world to come? What harm can their sins cause? We set out to investigate.
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Everyone knows that Jews have a complete system of laws with 613 commandments, and one who fulfills as many commandments as possible will earn a better place in the world to come. But what about non-Jews? After all, they did not receive the Torah; are they commanded to do anything? And can a non-Jew who observes these commandments have a share in the world to come?
"Non-Jews are obligated by very basic commandments, mainly humanitarian - proper conduct of a normative life system at a basic level," explains Rabbi Eli Amr, "Hashem tells them something simple: 'If you behave like human beings, you will have a world to come.'"
How exactly is such behavior defined?
"The system of commandments for non-Jews is called the 'Seven Laws of Noah': prohibitions against idolatry, sexual immorality, and murder. In addition, they must observe 'ever min ha-chai' - meaning not eating part of a living animal - and also belief in Hashem, avoidance of theft, and establishing a law and justice system. Once a non-Jew fulfills the Seven Laws of Noah, they do not need to convert, and will still receive a portion in the world to come. Of course, their reward will not be like that of a Jew who observed 613 commandments."
What is essentially their world to come?
"Regarding the concept of the 'world to come,' the Gemara states 'Eye has not seen, Hashem, aside from You.' That is, we cannot understand precisely what it is, as it does not have our conceptual framework. We only know that the pleasures there are spiritually based. There are three layers of pleasures: physical - food, drink, etc., mental pleasure - a sense of honor, joy, etc., and spiritual pleasures, which are much beyond. For example, some people go to difficult places for ideology. For such a person, it is physically and mentally challenging, but in exchange for their spiritual ideal, they are willing to dedicate both physical and mental enjoyment. So in this world, we mainly talk about physical enjoyments, whereas in the world to come, we talk about spiritual enjoyments, much higher ones."In the world to come, non-Jews will have simple spiritual enjoyment compared to Jews. But the fact that they earn a place in the world to come is still something significant. It's like a prestigious workplace, where you can be a CEO or a simple worker, but in any case, you are in a good place. Some won't even earn that."
Rabbi Pinchas Badash expands and recounts that in Tractate Avodah Zarah, page 3, the Sages say that at some point Hashem 'waived' the Seven Laws of Noah for the non-Jews when He saw they weren't fulfilling them. "But what does 'waived' mean?" Rabbi Badash asks and explains, "It means He disconnected their actions from influencing the upper worlds. After all, every commandment a person does below affects above in the upper worlds. But non-Jews only have influence below, not in the upper worlds. That is, He disconnected the connection between commandments in this world and the upper worlds, so their sins wouldn't cause more damage than they already do in this world."
Does this mean, for example, that Hitler had no influence on the upper worlds?
"No. All his influence was here. Clearly, he had no influence on the upper worlds because here, in this world, you can harm a person's body, not their soul. And that's what he did, he only harmed the body."
Nevertheless, are they entitled to reach the world to come?
"Non-Jews also have choice, and as soon as a non-Jew doesn't harm the world - doesn't murder, doesn't steal, isn't cruel to animals, etc. - they fulfill their purpose and therefore also earn a place in the world to come, at their level."
