Noahide
Special Days for Noahides During the Year
National holidays that are connected with idolatry should, of course, not be celebrated by Noahides. However, it’s permissible for Noahides to participate in days set aside for praising and thanking the One True G-d. Examples are a Thanksgiving Day and a National Day of Prayer.
Celebrating secular activities and commemorating historical events, even if they involve a festive meal, are permissible for Noahides. An example is the Independence Day of your own country, such as July 4th in the US. It is also permissible to observe secular days that strengthen logically incumbent precepts. Example are honoring parents on Mothers Day and Fathers Day, or participating in national days for doing acts of charity.
On the other hand, the permissibility for Noahides to observe any ritual aspects of Jewish holy days, or ritual activities of non-Torah holiday celebrations, must be examined, for each of those observances according to its own nature. What is permissible is explained in the book “The Divine Code,” 4th Edition, by Rabbi Moshe Weiner of Jerusalem. The chapter on “The Prohibition Against Making a New Religion or Adding a Commandment” teaches the following:
What is permissible?
“…if a Gentile [ritualistically] abstains from any weekday activities and makes a sabbath for himself, even on a weekday, he is liable [for making a new religion or adding a new commandment]. This obviously includes one who establishes a ‘holy day’ for himself that is similar to the holy days and Sabbaths of the Jews, which are religious holidays (i.e. ‘a holy assembly’ day, during which he [religiously] prohibits himself from work), since this is creating for himself a new religion.
Not only is taking on a sabbath day forbidden, but even the setting aside of any day for a specific religious observance or statute, such as one who establishes for himself a time to eat a special food as a precept (e.g., eating unleavened bread on Passover), or to fast on a specific day (e.g., Yom Kippur), and the like. Even if he did not also set it aside as a sabbath or festival day (i.e., for refraining from work), this is considered as creating a festival and a religion from his own comprehension.
However, if he sets up for himself a day of rest from work, not as a holiday but just as a break from work, it is permissible, for he is not establishing it as a religious precept… But if a Gentile wants to eat unleavened bread or sit in a sukkah booth for his pleasure (e.g., if he likes [normally] eating unleavened bread, or sitting in a sukkah booth because of the heat of the day), he is allowed to. This is so even during the Jewish holy days, since he does not intend at all to observe the Jewish commandment, but he does the action [as he normally would] only for his own satisfaction, and he is not establishing a festival for himself.”
Activities in honor of the Jewish Sabbath or festival days
For Gentiles, it’s no problem to acknowledge the special significance G-d assigns to the Seventh Day or Jewish festival days. This can be accomplished by doing normal activities in nicer ways, and having in mind to thereby honor the day. Here are a few examples:
– Just resting for the sake of one’s own physical rest and relaxation. This can include taking a day off from one’s job if permitted by the employer, or vacationing
– As stated by Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet o.b.m.: Eating a very nice meal after sunset on Friday and/or during the day on Saturday, or on the Biblical festival day. This can also include lighting candles on the table during any of those times to beautify the meal.
– Wearing nicer clothes.
Activities in honor of the Jewish festival days
Noahides may (but are not required to) commemorate Jewish festivals that in some way relate to Gentiles and their overall spiritual missions that G-d assigns for them. There are some of the festivals that Noahides have more connection to. They can honor them as special days (e.g., with prayers and selected Torah reading). Examples are Rosh HaShanah (the annual Day of Judgment for all people), and Sukkot (the annual time of judgment for the rainfall that each nation will receive, which is also characterized by the themes of unity and joy).
A Noahide is encouraged to always publicize the greatness of G-d. This was exemplified by the ways of Abraham, who made G-d known to all people. One should also look for occasions to remind people about G-d’s miracles in the world. This helps to accomplish the goal of perfecting the world through revealing the sovereignty of the Al-mighty. His miracles influence world events in every generation, which is one of the themes of Hanukkah.
However, these days should not be commemorated by Noahides in the same way as they are commanded to Jews. For instance, a Noahide should not refrain from normal activities on the Jewish holy days or Sabbath. They also should not perform Jewish commandments that are religious only, and have no logical practical benefit. Example are waiving the four species of plants during the Festival of Sukkot, or fasting on Yom Kippur.
The Jewish festival days of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, Yom Kippur, Purim and Shavuot have little relevance to Noahides. Nevertheless, the do serve as reminders of constantly-relevant general Torah principles. But all the festivals have associated readings from the Five Books of Moses, and/or the Prophets or Holy Writings. Noahides may read those passages on those days.
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