Question QUESTION: Q-I was wondering..
is it forbidden for a non-jew, a messianic non-jew that is to:
-wear a tallit
-A kippah
-be called to the bimah
-be counted among a minyan
-read from the Torah
-teach Torah unqualified
Can you explain why this is forbidden and provide Torah/Talmudic references if any. Can this be compared to Nadav and Abihu?
ANSWER: R,
Thank you for the kind questions! Halakhah prohibits #2,3,4 and 6 above. Any one may cover their head in respect of G-d and indeed any visitor to a Synagogue is expected to cover his/her head while inside. #5 would also be prohibited if you are referring to a kosher Torah scroll, but certainly not to the family or personal Bible.
The sin of the sons of Aaron was that they tried to do what they were not qualified or authorized to do. I would consider the comparison more with a regular Israelite trying to perform the functions of a Priest or Levite. A non-Jew who, for example wanted to learn Torah might be shown a Scroll and if their Hebrew permitted even to read from it for practice. Remember that the sons of Aaron broke Torah Law, not Jewish Common Law (Halakhah), so I would be hesitant to extrapolate it to your questions. Hope this helps! Shalom!
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Okay, when you say “the sons of Aaron broke the TORAH law, what law was that? (ref?)
There are so many interpretations as to what they were killed for...the Torah says "strange fire"..What exactly does that mean??
And do you mean the Common Law (Halakhah) to mean the Oral Tradition? If so, I thought both were considered just as binding?
Answer As luck would have it, they are the subject of this week's Parshah (Sh’mini-Leviticus 9:1-11:47),so read along and see what you think. I believe their sin was bringing the incense offering when they were not qualified to do so. There are other opinions. While it is true that Orthodoxy does consider both the Oral Tradition and Torah Law as equally binding, capital punishment never has applied to the former only the latter. Shabbat Shalom!
