Can Non-Jews Keep the Torah
Question
Hello Today I had a conversation today with a rabbi. He told me that if I wasn't a Jew and I tried to keep the Torah it would shorten my life. He said the Torah said this. Only Jews should keep the Torah.
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
The Torah belongs to the Jewish people, notwithstanding that it has been translated into every language in the world and many non-Jews choose to follow some of its laws.
Similarly, the Talmud (Kiddushin 31a) says regarding the Gentile the performed the mitzvah of honoring his parents, “And Rabbi Ḥanina said: And if this is related about one who is not commanded by the Torah to honor his father, as Dama was a gentile, and nevertheless when he performs the mitzva he is given this great reward, all the more so is one rewarded who is commanded to fulfill a mitzva and performs it.”
So from the above we see that non-Jew are rewarded for their mitzvot and good deeds. However, as Rabbi Ḥanina says: “Greater is one who is commanded to do a mitzva and performs it than one who is not commanded to do a mitzva and performs it.” So while non-Jews will be rewarded it is even more important the Jews do the mitzvot of the Torah because them Torah was specifically given to the Jewish people to perform it’s mitzvot. In the words of the Kuzari (1:27) "...non-Jews who wish to observe the Torah will share in the rewards just like us, though not to the same degree. [because they are not truly commanded to observe them]"
Actually, a non-Jew MUST study the parts of Torah that is relevant to them. For example, non-Jews must observe 7 precepts, or commandments. They are known as the “Noahide Laws” because the requirement to observe these seven laws was given Noah, a righteous non-Jew (yes, the fellow from the story with the flood).
The 7 laws are:
1. Don’t murder.
2. Don’t steal.
3. Don’t worship false gods.
4. Don’t be sexually immoral.
5. Don’t eat a limb from an animal that is still alive.
6. Don’t curse God.
7. Establish a system of justice.
Any human being who observes these laws goes to heaven. Take a look at the website https://www.netivonline.org/ which specializes in helping non-Jews with religious beliefs. There is a wealth of information there that you will find useful and inspiring. It is also worth looking up the “Noahide” or "B'nai Noach" movement and consider joining them!
With blessings.