The old paths, or the Talmud tested by Scripture: Being a comparison of the principles and doctrines of modern Judaism with the religion of Moses and the prophetsMcCaul, Alexander
Religion
The old paths, or the Talmud tested by Scripture: Being a comparison of the principles and doctrines of modern Judaism with the religion of Moses and the prophets
McCaul, Alexander
Judaism -- Works to 1900
God, inasmuch as he is represented as unduly favouring one nation, and
unjustly condemning all others.
An advocate of the oral law may, however, find out some other way of
evading the evident intolerance of the above statement, and still insist
upon it, that as the Talmud says, “The pious of the nations of the world
have a share in the world to come,” it is a very tolerant book. We
therefore proceed to inquire what pains the Rabbies have taken to add to
the number of those who are to be saved. They believe, as we are told,
that every one, who receives and observes the seven commandments of the
sons of Noah, will be saved; they believe that all others must be lost;
have they then taken any pains to make known this important information
to the world? Or, if that was not to be expected during the captivity,
did they during the days of their power and dominion? Or, at least, did
they offer every facility to those Gentiles who might come to renounce
idolatry, to receive the necessary instruction? Did they command all
their disciples to be ready day and night to open their doors at the
knock of the penitent idolater, and by receiving rescue him from
everlasting destruction? Not one of all these things. They commanded
that, when there was no jubilee, such converts should be refused, and
that if they did not choose to be circumcised and observe the whole
Mosaic law, they should be left to perish.
אי זה הוא גר תושב זה גוי שקבל עליו שלא יעבוד עכו׳׳ם עם שאר המצוות שנצטוו
בני נח ולא מל ולא טבל הרי זה מקבליו אותי והוא מחסידי אומות העולם , וממה
נקרא שמו תושב לפי שמותר לנו להושיבו בינינו בארץ ישראל כמו שבארנו בחלכות
עכו׳׳ם , ואין מקבלין גר תושב אלא בזמן שהיובל נוהג ׃
“What is meant by a sojourning proselyte? Such an one is a Gentile, who
has taken upon himself not to commit idolatry, together with the
remaining commandments given to the sons of Noah, but is not circumcised
nor baptized. Such an one is received, and is of the pious of the
nations of the world. And why is he called a _sojourner_? Because it is
lawful for us to let him dwell amongst us in the land of Israel, as we
have explained in the laws concerning idolatry. _But a sojourning
Proselyte is not received_ WHEN THE JUBILEE CANNOT BE OBSERVED.”
(Hilchoth Issure Biah., c. xiv. 7, 8.) At all other times the
unfortunate heathen might perish, if they did not choose to become Jews
altogether. Now what will be thought of the charity of this law if we
add, that there has been no jubilee, and consequently no pious amongst
the nations for two thousand seven hundred years and more? Yet this is
what the oral law tells us.
משגלו שבט ראובן ושבט גד וחצי שבט מנשה בטלו היובלות שנאמר וקראתם דרור
בארץ לכל יושביה , בזמן שכל יושביה עליה , והוא שלא יהיו מעורבבין שבט בשבט
אלא כולן יושבים כתקונן ׃
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