Chassidus for Noahides

A prime purpose of the moral code of the Seven Universal Commandments is to teach Noahides about the Oneness of G-d, and therefore those parts of Torah that pertain to this knowledge are entirely permissible for Noahides to study.

Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, in his commentary to Maimonides Mishneh Torah (Laws of Kings 10:9), writes regarding this:

“In order to observe the prohibition against the worship of false gods correctly, one must become aware of G-d’s unity. Accordingly, a number of contemporary Sages have suggested the translation of certain basic Chassidic and Kabbalistic texts into English with the intent that they be studied by gentiles.”

In his book “Turning Judaism Outwards,” Rabbi Chaim Miller writes, on page 44, “Rayatz [Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the 6th Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidus] penned an interesting memo [written to a non-Jewish Russian scholar called Alexander Vasilyevich Barchenko] of what he felt were universal “foundational ideas” of Chasidic wisdom for non-Jews.” In the notes on page 440, Rabbi Miller writes that, “Rayatz proposed a six-point system for non-Jewish, Torah-based spirituality:

1. “Avoid evil,” which includes minimizing worldly pleasures.
2. Expand the mind through intellectual contemplation.
3. Observe the Torah’s commandments (i.e. Noahide Laws) with utter dedication, disregarding all obstacles.
4. Pray to G-d with sincerity and still devotion, that G-d should have mercy and expand the worshipper’s mind.
5. Set aside specific times for self-evaluation, to determine if one’s thoughts are pure or impure; if one’s talk is devoid of lies and slander; if one’s actions are unquestioningly in accordance with Torah law.
6. One’s thoughts should be, as much as possible, bound with the living G-d with simple faith and without thoughts of reward.”

In his book “Compassion for Humanity in the Jewish Tradition,” Rabbi David Sears, writes on page 105, under the heading ‘Chasidic Teachings for Non-Jews:’

“The “spreading of the wellsprings” of Chasidic teachings should not be limited to Jews alone, but should be extended outwards to non-Jews as well. As [Maimonides] states, the purpose of giving the Torah was to bring peace to the world (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Chanukah 4:14). Similarly, he writes that every Jew is obligated to try and influence those who are not Jewish to fulfill the Seven Laws of Noah. Maimonides also states that one of the achievements of the Messiah will be to spiritually refine and elevate the nations of the world until they, too, become aware of G-d, to the point where G-dliness will be revealed “to all flesh,” [a term which denotes both Jews and] non-Jews.

Since the rewards of Torah come “measure for measure,” it follows that among the efforts to bring the Messianic age must be the effort to spread the Seven Laws of Noah, as well as the wellsprings of Chasidic teachings associated with them, outward to non-Jews. Indeed, the Prophets tell us, “Nations shall walk in the your light.” Although the Torah was given to the people of Israel, it will also serve as a light to the nations (Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, Likkutei Sichos, 19 Kislev 5743 [1982]).

Books and Websites

What Chabad Really Believes: A Midair Dialogue on Chassidic Philosophy and Its Climactic View of Our Current Age, by Yoseph Y. Kohanov.

Kabbalah and Meditation for the Nations by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh – www.inner.org/nonjews/intro.htm. 

What You Need To Know About Kabbalah by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh of www.inner.org. 

Inward Bound: A guide to understanding kabbalah, by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov of RabbiDubov.org

The Basics of Chassidus | Volume 1 Chabad: Its Origins, Principles and Purpose| Book On Judaism, Chabad Philosophy & Jewish Mysticism, by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov & Rabbi Naftoli Hertz Pewzner

Baad Kodesh, A Judgment of Truth and Mercy, by The Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber. Published by Sichos in English (online for free on this link).

There Is One by Gutman Locks – ThereIsOne.com

TorahVisuals.com – An animated exploration of Kabbalah & Chassidus.

Tanya

Lessons In Tanya (Volume III) – Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Complete online book for free!).

Sparks of Tanya Vol. 2 Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah

The Sustaining Utterance: Discourses on Chassidic Thought, by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

Videos and audio: TanyaClass.com with Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski.

Audio: Chabad.org – Tanya with Rabbi Manis Friedman. – ItsGoodToKnow.org