The First International Congress of Noahides was held in Israel, bringing together over 60 delegates from 22 countries. The gathering was organised by Brit Olam, a Jerusalem-based organisation that claims thousands of followers in more than 70 countries. The congress aimed to unite Noahides, who follow Jewish teachings without converting to Judaism, under a formal global structure. Many attendees, like Gilbert Meñoza, come from Christian backgrounds and have found a new spiritual path through their study of the Hebrew Bible.
Meñoza, a former Christian pastor from the Philippines, began studying with rabbis online and eventually completed a three-year religious leadership course. He now reaches a wider audience through radio and television broadcasts. The congress provided a platform for Noahides to connect with each other and with Israeli rabbis. The event included tours of biblical sites in the West Bank and a meeting with President Isaac Herzog. Delegates also signed a founding scroll, similar to Theodor Herzl's First Zionist Congress.
The Noahide movement is based on the biblical account of God's covenant with Noah, which established seven universal obligations. These include creating a justice system and bans on murder, theft, and idolatry. Unlike converts to Judaism, Noahides retain their non-Jewish identities while accepting the Hebrew Bible as a source of guidance. Rabbi Oury Cherki, president of Brit Olam, hopes the Jerusalem congress will transform the Noahide movement into an organised international movement.
The congress established an international court of rabbis offering guidance to Noahide communities worldwide. Organisers also reported that the event "carries the blessings of Israel's chief rabbis". For centuries, the Seven Laws of Noah remained largely a matter of Jewish teaching rather than an organised effort to reach non-Jews. However, Rabbi Cherki believes Israel's establishment has spurred the delivery of these teachings to a wider international audience.
Steven Lee Rachel, a Noahide from Montreal, said his decision to follow Jewish teachings has positively impacted his life. He married fellow Noahide Camila Henriquez in a ceremony co-officiated by Rabbi Yisroel Bernath and Aleeza Ben Shalom. The couple exchanged vows beneath a chuppah, pledging to build their home according to the Seven Laws of Noah. Ben Shalom said the ceremony was a "Kiddush Hashem", or sanctification of God's name.
Eliezer Vicente Yarid, a Cuban who now lives in the United States, spent years helping others reconnect with their Jewish ancestry. However, he chose not to convert to Judaism himself and instead follows the Seven Laws of Noah with his family. The congress offered delegates practical guidance on building Noahide communities and strengthening ties with Israeli rabbis. Rabbi Chaim Goldberg, chief executive of Brit Olam, said the event highlighted the connection between Noahides and the people of Israel.
The Noahide movement is growing, with thousands of followers worldwide. Gilbert Meñoza hopes to establish permanent institutions and overcome challenges facing Noahides in the Philippines. The movement offers a new spiritual path for non-Jews who accept the Hebrew Bible as a source of guidance. As Rabbi Cherki said, the goal is to build "a healthy connection with the outside world". The congress marked a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Key points
- The First International Congress of Noahides was held in Israel, uniting over 60 delegates from 22 countries under a formal global structure.
- The Noahide movement is based on the biblical account of God's covenant with Noah, which established seven universal obligations.
- The congress established an international court of rabbis offering guidance to Noahide communities worldwide.
