Non-Jews from Six Continents Make History in Jerusalem, Embracing the God of Israel

At a time of growing hostility toward Israel, nearly 100 delegates and community leaders from around the world gathered in Jerusalem to embrace the God of Israel and the universal teachings of the Torah.

By United with Israel Staff

They traveled thousands of miles from different countries, cultures and religious backgrounds, united by a remarkable conviction: The Torah’s universal teachings offer a moral foundation for all humanity.

The November 2–6 gathering, held at the Seven Arches Hotel on the Mount of Olives, marked the first International Noahide Congress, bringing together participants from approximately 20 countries across six continents.

They came not to convert to Judaism, but to embrace the Torah’s universal moral teachings and strengthen their spiritual connection to the Jewish people and Jerusalem.

Organized by the Jerusalem-based Noahide World Center, also known as Brit Olam, the congress marked an ambitious effort to unite scattered Noahide communities into an organized international movement with Jerusalem as its spiritual center.

Who are the Noahides?

Noahides are non-Jews who embrace the Seven Laws of Noah, which Jewish tradition teaches are God’s universal commandments for humanity.

These laws prohibit murder, theft, idolatry, blasphemy, sexual immorality and eating flesh taken from a living animal, while requiring the establishment of courts of justice.

Unlike conversion to Judaism, the Noahide path allows people to maintain their national and cultural identities while embracing the ethical teachings of the Torah.

For many participants, discovering this path has transformed their lives.

From Christianity to the God of Israel

Among those attending was Solia Centeno de Baglivo, a lawyer and mother of two from Bolivia, whose spiritual journey began with questions about the Catholic faith in which she was raised.

During the COVID pandemic, she became increasingly drawn to Jewish teachings. But converting to Judaism presented serious challenges, including opposition within her community and concerns about her marriage.

After discovering the Noahide World Center online, she found a path that allowed her to embrace the Torah’s teachings without becoming Jewish.

Today, she has helped establish a Noahide community of approximately 40 people in Bolivia.

Her story reflects a growing phenomenon: people from different religious backgrounds discovering a deep connection to the God of Israel and the Jewish people.

Another participant, Steven Lee Rachel of Montreal, Canada, grew up in a Catholic environment and studied theology before embracing the Noahide path.

He and his wife now practice ethical monotheism, maintain close ties with Jewish communities, support Israel and actively oppose antisemitism.

For Rachel, the movement represents a return to ancient moral principles rather than the creation of a new religion.

A historic milestone for a global movement

The congress was far more than a religious gathering.

Delegates ratified a founding charter, established an international rabbinical court to provide religious guidance, and formalized a shared educational curriculum.

Participants also visited biblical sites, including Shiloh in Samaria, where the Tabernacle once stood, and attended a reception at Israel’s President’s Residence.

Rabbi Oury Cherki, president of the Noahide World Center, described the gathering as the beginning of a new relationship between Israel and the nations.

“We are now collaborating in our love of God to build a better world together,” he told The Times of Israel.

An ancient prophecy comes into focus

For the organizers, the gathering carried profound biblical significance.

The prophet Zechariah declared:

“And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people.” (Zechariah 2:15)

The Noahide World Center prominently featured this prophecy in presenting the congress, viewing the international gathering as part of a spiritual awakening among the nations.

At a time when Israel faces growing international criticism and antisemitism, the sight of people traveling thousands of miles to Jerusalem to embrace the Torah’s universal values offered a strikingly different message.

More than 2,500 years after the prophet Zechariah envisioned nations joining themselves to the God of Israel, representatives from six continents gathered in Jerusalem—not to become Jews, but to embrace the universal moral teachings of the Torah.

For those who made the journey, an ancient biblical vision had taken a remarkable step toward becoming reality.