Menachem Marc Kellner

Menachem Marc Kellner is recognized for his scholarly contributions to Jewish philosophy, with a particular focus on the works of Maimonides and the concept of the Seven Laws of Noah. These laws, originating in Jewish tradition, are presented as a universal moral code for all humanity, established by God in a covenant with Noah. The Seven Laws include prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, sexual immorality, theft, and consuming flesh from a living animal, alongside the commandment to establish courts of justice.

According to rabbinic thought, adherence to these laws is sufficient for non-Jews to be considered righteous and to merit a place in the World to Come, earning them the designation of "Righteous Gentiles." While the Talmudic tradition details these laws, their origins and interpretations have been explored across various texts, including the Book of Jubilees and Samaritan traditions, which offer differing perspectives and enumerations. Kellner's work engages with these traditions and their philosophical implications, particularly concerning universal ethics and salvation for non-Jews within Jewish thought.

The Seven Laws of Noah, also known as the Noahide Laws, are a set of universal moral principles derived from Jewish tradition. According to the Talmud, these laws form a covenant between God and all of humanity, stemming from Noah. The core commandments include prohibitions against idol worship, cursing God, murder, adultery and sexual immorality, theft, and eating flesh torn from a living animal. Additionally, there is an obligation to establish courts of justice. These laws are considered binding for non-Jews, who are not required to convert to Judaism but are expected to observe them to attain a share in the World to Come. Those who follow these laws are referred to as "Righteous Gentiles."

The origins of the Seven Laws of Noah are traced back to biblical narratives and rabbinic interpretations. While the Babylonian Talmud and Tosefta provide the most commonly cited list, the Book of Jubilees offers a different set of six commandments emphasizing righteousness, honoring parents, and loving one's neighbor. Samaritan tradition, however, does not recognize Noahide Laws in the same rabbinic framework, focusing instead on their own covenant and adherence to the Torah. The laws are understood to have been initially given to Adam and later reiterated to Noah, with rabbinic sages debating their exact number and derivation from passages in Genesis.

The concept of the Noahide Laws has significant philosophical implications, particularly regarding Jewish universalism. Medieval Jewish scholars, including Maimonides, Menachem ben Solomon Ha-Meiri, and later Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, debated the status of other religions and the potential for salvation for non-Jews. They affirmed that adherence to the Noahide Laws, or even acts of exceptional kindness, could lead to salvation. In the 19th century, figures like Elijah Benamozegh and Aimé Pallière further explored Noahide faith as a universal moral religion for Gentiles, positioning it as a bridge between particularistic Jewish ethics and broader universalist ideals.