Some True Quotes about Non-Jews from the Talmud

In contrast to the lies promulgated by the fabrications, mistranslations and misrepresentations of anti-Semites presented on other parts of this Web site, here is a brief survey of the Talmudic treatment of non-Jews.

 

By Michael Gruda mgruda@netvision.net.il  
 

The following brief list of quotations from Talmudic literature clarify the attitude of the sages to non-Jews. Many more examples can be adduced but this short list should be sufficient for the purposes of this article.

1. "They said of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai that no man ever greeted him first, even idol worshippers in the market" [i.e., Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai was the first to greet every person, even idol worshippers] (Berachot 17).

At the same location the sage Abaye advocated soft speech and words of peace to everyone, especially including idol worshippers.

2. "[it is proper to] support the idol worshippers during the sabbatical year …. and to inquire after their welfare [commentators: even on the days of the holidays of their idols, even if they do not keep the seven Noahide commandments] because of the ways of peace." (Shevi'it 4,3)

3. The rabbis taught: 'We support poor Gentiles with the poor people of Israel, and we visit sick Gentiles as well as the sick of Israel and we bury the dead of the Gentiles as well as the dead of Israel, because of the ways of peace." (Gitin 61a)

4. The Talmud contains many references to righteous gentiles whose behaviour is held up as a model for all people. The example of Dama ben Netina is known to all Jewish children (Kidushin 31a):

'They asked R. Eliezer how far one should go in honoring parents. He said to them: Go and see how one idol worshipper in Ashdod honored his father, and Dama ben Netina was his name. The sages wished to purchase gems from him for the Ephod [for a tremendous profit] … but the key [to the box containing the gems] was under his father's pillow [while his father was sleeping] and he did not trouble his father [by waking him even though he gave up a tremendous profit].' Dama was rewarded for his virtue the next year when a red heifer [required for the Temple service] was born in his flock. When he sold it to the sages he told them that he knew that they would pay any price he asked for it, but he asked only for the amount he had not earned the previous year when he refrained from waking his father.

5. Another example of righteous gentiles whose behaviour is held up as a model is to be found in the story of the King of Katsia and his subjects.

One of his subjects purchased a ruin from his neighbor and found a treasure in it. He insisted on giving it back to his neighbor, claiming he had purchased only the ruin, and not a treasure. His neighbor refused to take it, insisting that he had sold the ruin and everything in it. The two litigants came to the King to decide the issue. When the King discovered that one neighbor had a son and the other one had a daughter he ruled that the children should marry and share the treasure. It is related that Alexander of Macedonia saw this judgement and was amazed by it. He told the King of Katsia that in his country the two neighbors would be executed (since in his land found treasure had to be delivered to the King at the pain of death). The King of Katsia is reported to have asked Alexander if the rain fell and the sun shone and if there were animals in the land of Alexander. When Alexander answered affirmatively the King of Katsia told him that the sun shone and the rain fell in the merit of the animals, not the people of his land. (Gen R 33 - further sources are referenced at this location).

6. Baba Kama 38a: "But we learned: R. Meir says - whence do we learn that a gentile who is occupied in the Torah [the reference is to those commandments which apply to gentiles] is like the High Priest? As it says [a proof text is given]…."

7. Kidushin 32 contains descriptions of the manner in which our sages honored and respected the elderly. The passage specifically refers to elderly gentiles who were honored in various fashions by the sages.

8. In TY Baba Metzia there are a number of descriptions of sages going out of their way to return lost objects to gentiles (Elu Metziot).

9. Avot 3,14: "He [Rabbi Akiva] was accustomed to say: Beloved is man [commentators: the reference is to all mankind], for he was created in G-d's image .."

10. Tosefta BK 10,8: ".. it is more grievous to steal from a gentile because of the desecration of G-d's name .."

11. Tosefta BM 2,11: ".. one who sees a lost donkey of an idol worshipper must take care of it exactly the way he takes care of the lost donkey of an Israelite .."

12. At Avoda Zara 18a the Talmud relates the remarkable story of how a Roman guard of one of the sages who was brutally murdered by the Romans repented. It was made known to the sages that the guard and the sage were welcomed to the World to Come together.

13. At Hullin 7a there is a report of how the sage Pinchas ben Yair miraculously split a river in order to speed his way to carry out the commandment to redeem captives. He went out of his way to split the river again in order to allow a gentile who was accompanying his group to also cross the river to speed his way.

This approach characterized sages throughout all generations. Some examples have been quoted in the earlier parts of this article. Two further examples of interest follow. Many more appear in the literature.

14. Maimonides (over 800 years ago) in Laws of the Sabbatical Year and Jubilee, Chapter 13, Halacha 13, writes .. "and not only the Tribe of Levy [merits special closeness to G-d] but every single person of those who walk the earth who ... walks straight in the manner G-d created him ... behold this person is sanctified as the Holy of Holies and [he will receive his reward in the World to Come] as the Priests and Levites."

15. Tiferet Yisrael (Boaz) (approximately 150 years ago) on Avot 3,14 writes, " ... even if our sages had not explicitly taught [that righteous Gentiles have a place in the World to Come as we learn in Sanhedrin 105 and Maimonides Chapter 8 of the Laws of Kings] we would have understood this ourselves since G-d is righteous in all His ways ... and we see many of the righteous Gentiles who not only recognize the Creator and believe in the divine origin of the Torah and also act charitably ... we will say something which is a  commandment to publicize ... for behold, some of the them have done tremendous good for all mankind, such as Yenner who invented the ... which saves tens of thousands of people from disease and death and deformities ... and Draka (?) who brought the potato to Europe thus saving [people] from hunger ... and Gutenberg who invented the printing press, and
some who never received any reward in this world such as the righteous Reuchlin who risked his life [to prevent the burning of the Talmud] ... Can anyone imagine that these great deeds are not repaid in the World to Come? .."

By Michael Gruda mgruda@netvision.net.il

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