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A couple of people have written to me saying that one has to keep in mind
that the statement by RSRH "<font size=3><b>that a non-Jew who
observes the laws given to him by God is an equal of the High
Priest</b>" was written in an essay that was designed to prevent the
banning of the Talmud, and hence to be read by Russian government
officials. The implication is that Rav Hirsch wrote this under
"extenuating circumstances." However, this is not the case. The
following is from the new translation of the Hirsch Chumash, Vayikra, 18,
5. I am sure that RSRH did not expect Russian officials to read his
commentary on the Chumash.<br><br>
I have posted the RSRH's entire commentary on this posuk at
<a href="http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/gentile_vayikra_18_5.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/gentile_vayikra_18_5.pdf<br><br>
</a></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>Even a non-Jew who keeps
God’s Law is the equal of the High Priest;<br>
for it says: “… which a
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>man
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>shall do and live
thereby.” Similarly, it says<br>
(</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Shemuel
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>II, 7:19): “This is the
teaching for
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>man</i></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>” — and does not say<br>
“for Priests, Levites, and Israelites.” Similarly, it does not say “Open
the<br>
gates, that Priests, Levites, and Israelites may enter” but: “… that
a<br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>righteous
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>people may enter”
(</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Yeshayahu
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>26:2). Similarly, it does
not say<br>
“This is the gateway to God; Priests, Levites, and Israelites shall
enter<br>
through it,” but: “… the
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>righteous
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>shall enter through it”
(</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Tehillim<br>
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>118:20). Similarly, it
does not say “Exult, you Priests, Levites and Israelites,”<br>
but: “Exult, you
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>righteous</i></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>, in God” (ibid. 33:1). Similarly,
it does<br>
not say “Do good, O God, to the Priests, Levites and Israelites,”
but:<br>
“… to those who are
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>good</i></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>” (ibid. 125:4). It follows that
even a non-Jew<br>
who fulfills God’s Law is the equal of the High Priest.<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
Yitzchok Levine</font></body>
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