[Avodah] R' Angel & Geirus Redux

[Michael Makovi]

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (keep his experience in kiruv in mind, IMHO),
Handbook of Jewish Thought, vol. 2. Now, I will say right now, I have
NOT looked up the sources from the footnotes.

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12:55 (page 151)
However, a person who has been brought up in a nonreligious
environment 139 where he never had the opportunity to learn about
Judaism, 140 is like a child who was abducted by gentiles, 141 and is
not considered to be doing wrong purposely. 142 Even if he is later
exposed to authentic Judaism, he is not to be blamed for rejecting it,
since it is almost impossible to overcome one's childhood upbringing.
143 Therefore, such a person is not to be counted among the
nonbelievers, 144 and he should be approached with love and with every
attempt to bring him back to the teachings of our faith. 145

139. Cf. Tosefta, Sanhedrin 14:1; Yad, Avodath Kokhavim 4:6; Migdal
Oz, Kesef Mishna, Pri Chadash, ad. loc.; Pith'chey Teshuvah 340:5,,
345:4; HaGra 340:13, 345:9; Chokhmath Adam 156:7; Kitzur Shulchan
Aruch 201:7; Teshuvoth Avodath Gershoni 48. See also Semachoth 3:5;
Yoreh Deah 344:6.

140. For example, the children of the Karaites; cf. Yad, Mamrim 3:3;
Hagahoth Mordecai, Yevamoth 107; Yoreh Deah 159:3. Others count later
generations of Karaites as apostates; cf. Radbaz, Mamrim 3:3; Sifethey
Cohen, Yoreh Deah 159:6, 266:17, 267:59; Choshen Mishpat 175:33; Yad
Avraham, Yoreh Deah 159:3; Mishnah Berurah 55:47; Teshuvoth Rabbi
Aaron ibn Chaim 113, 125; Teshuvoth Mabit 2:38;  Teshuvoth Rabbi
Betzalel Ashkenazi 3 (end). Other sources seem to indicate that the
later generations of Karaites were worse than the earlier ones; cf.
Tosaftoh, Avodah Zara 26b s.v. Ani; Rosh Avodah Zara 2:7, from
Yerushalmi, Avodah Zara 5:4 (34a). See also Rambam on Chullin 1:1.

141. Shabbath 68a-b; Shevuoth 5a; Yerushalmi Shabbath 7:1 (40a); Yad,
Shegagoth 2:6, 7:2; Yoreh Deah 159:6 in Hagah.

142. Yad, Mamrim 3:3; Sefer Mitzvoth Gadol, Negative Commandment 217
(end). Cf. Bava Metzia 33b.

143. Cf. Kethuvoth 41b; Yerushalmi Sotah 4:4 (20a); BaMidbar Rabbah
9:10; Yad, Issurey Biyah 1:9. See Magen Avraham 204:20; Biur HaGra
ibid. s.v. Im Ansuhu. Also see Terumath HaDeshen 223.

144. Regarding their position in the World to Come, see Sanhedrin
110b; Tosefta, Sanhedrin 13:1; Yalkut Shimoni 2:874; Sotah 48a (end).
>From Rashi, Sotah 48b, Sanhedrin 110b, s.v. Ketaney, this would appear
to refer only to those who die as children. Cf. Koheleth Rabbah 4:1;
Zohar 2:113a. Also see Zohar 2:96a, 3:234a.

145. Rambam, Iggereth HaShmad, p. 20, from Proverbs 6:30; Yad, Mamrim
3:3; Sefer Mitzvoth Gadol, Negative Commandment 217 (end); Teshuvoth
Rashbash 68, cited in Pith'chey Teshuvah 268:10; Chazon Ish, Yoreh
Deah 13:28, Evven HaEzer, Yibum 71, commentary on Yad, Deyoth 6:3.

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13:23 (page 167)

At the opposite extreme [of a shogeg talmid chacham who is as if
meizid - 13:22] is the individual who is raised in a totally
nonreligious environment. Such a person can grow up in complete
ignorance of the Torah's teachings. He is thus not considered a
purposeful sinner, but rather, like a child kidnapped as an infant who
never had access to the truth. 70 Although such an individual might
bear some responsibility for his general ignorance, he is in no way to
blame for each individual act. 71 Even if he is later exposed to the
Torah's teachings, it is still counted as if he is acting out of
ignorance,  72, since it is all but impossible to overcome one's
upbringing. 73 However, even such an individual is responsible for
moral sins, such as murder and robbery, since these can be readily
deduced from common sense. 74

70. Shabbath 68b; Yerushalmi Shabbath 7:1 (40a); Yad, Shegagoth 2:6,
7:2. However, see Berenoro, Tosefoth Yom Tov, on Keritoth 1:2.

71. Ibid.

72. C.f Bava Metzia 33b; Maharsha ad. loc.

73. See above 12:55, notes 142, 143.

74. Moreh Nevukhim 3:13; Ramban, Meiri, Makkoth 7b; Sefer Chasidim
153. [Mikha'el Makovi: I would add that surely a Jewish TsN is no less
liable than the gentiles he was raised amongst (literally or
allegorically). If they are liable to the Noachide Laws despite their
ignorance, surely he is also liable to the "moral" laws despite his
own ignorance, which by definition cannot be greater than the
gentiles' ignorance.]