Prohibition Against Spoil, Plunder, and Harming the Rights of Others

Embarrassing

A person is not allowed to insult or injure the reputation of another person in public. It is better that he be thrown into a burning fire rather than to embarrass someone else. An example is Tamar who avoided publicly shaming Judah even though she had been sentenced to be burnt. Tamar was a child of Noah.

Hitting another person

It is prohibited to hit another person or to injure him. Parents or teachers are allowed to hit their children to discipline them and in self-protection. You are also permitted to fight back if you are attacked.

Property, Goods and possessions of others

It is prohibited to cause damage to such things. If a person is given such a possession to safeguard or for any other reason even if it is worthless, it must be returned to its legal owner. You cannot keep it. A person is also not allowed to cheat on taxes.

Returning lost property

When a country has laws concerning the return of lost property, then such goods must be handed over to the rightful owner.

Prohibition against cheating in business and weights

A person is not only prohibited from doing so, but he must make every effort to protect his credibility by carrying out his business transactions in the most honest and honorable way possible.

Coveting other person’s property

This means property, money or anything belonging to another. It is prohibited to covet belongings of another, which means to scheme to acquire them by illegal methods against the will of the present owner.

It is forbidden to sue for damages against any individual, company or government when there was no real damage done or for an exorbitant proportion.

Bribery

It is prohibited to give or accept bribes. Sometimes one may find himself in circumstances that cause him to pay a bribe, but this would be in a place where there is no justice, such as among robbers or the like, so as to save oneself.

Grace, Mercy, Charity, Kindness and Benevolence

A Noahide is called upon to give to charities and persons in need.

According to Rav Saadiah Gaon, it is commendable for a person to tithe, meaning that he set aside up to one tenth of all his earnings for this purpose.

However, a person need not deprive himself of his own basic necessities in order to give to others.

According to Ezekiel, one of the reasons for the punishment of Sodom was that the poor people there were not given alms.

It is worthwhile that a person keep a special account for such a purpose, and once a week or month he should transfer it to good causes. It is best to transfer it directly to the needy people.

A Noahide is called upon to act in a graceful manner and to be benevolent.

One should be hospitable and a good host with all his heart as Abraham did.

 

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