The Issue With The Term ” Bnei Noach” | Rabbi Aaron Poston

Noahidism or Noachidism is a monotheistic branch of Judaism based on the Seven Laws of Noah, and their traditional interpretations within Rabbinic Judaism. According to the Jewish law, non-Jews (Gentiles) are not obligated to convert to Judaism, but they are required to observe the Seven Laws of Noah to be assured of a place in the World to Come (Olam Ha-Ba), the final reward of the righteous. The divinely ordained penalty for violating any of these Noahide Laws is discussed in the Talmud,[3] but in practical terms, it is subject to the working legal system which is established by the society at large. Those who subscribe to the observance of the Noahic Covenant are referred to as B’nei Noach (Hebrew: בני נח, “Children of Noah”) or Noahides. Supporting organizations have been established around the world over the past decades by either Noahides or Orthodox Jews.

Historically, the Hebrew term B’nei Noach has applied to all non-Jews as descendants of Noah. However, nowadays it’s primarily used to refer specifically to those non-Jews who observe the Seven Laws of Noah.

According to a Noahide source in 2018, there are over 20,000 Noahides, and the country with the greatest number is the Philippines.