13 Principles of Jewish Faith

Jewscout · #1 (**permalink**) 21st June 2005, 03:45 PM

in the 12th century Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides or the Rambam, became one of the great Jewish scholars in Jewish history with his commentary on the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. His 13 Principles of Jewish Faith have become the cornerstone of traditional Judaism. It is the heart and soul of torah observant judaism and is its central Dogma. I plan on listing, with some commentary, the 13 principles below.

Shalom
JS

EDIT: Here's a good run down...
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...2_1&sbid=lc04b

Jewscout · #2 (**permalink**) 21st June 2005, 04:16 PM

1. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.

Quote:

To believe in the existence of the Creator, may He be blessed, i.e., that there is an Existence that is perfect (and absolute) in all facets of existence. He is the cause of all that exists, the sustenance of all, and through Him all is maintained. There is no possibility that He does not exist because without Him, all existence would cease to be and nothing would remain. [Whereas] if we would imagine the absence of all existence other than His, the existence of God would neither cease nor diminish. For He is self-sufficient in His existence, He suffices in Himself, and His existence requires nothing other than Himself. [For] among the intelligences -- the angels and the constellations and all that they contain and all that is below them -- they all need Him for their existence. This is the first Principle, as affirmed by the verse (Exodus 20:2) "I am God, your Lord..."
Maimonides, 13 Principles of Faith

it's whole Alpha and Omega thing. He is, He was, He always will be. Everything exists because of Him, nothing exists without Him. And nothing exists independent of Him. Everything exists because He wills it to exist.

here are some things that i find help to expound on this first Principle
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi...as_Creator.asp

Lightkeeper · #3 (**permalink**) 21st June 2005, 08:02 PM

This is so exciting. Thank you for enlightening us.

Jewscout · #4 (**permalink**) 21st June 2005, 08:16 PM

2. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is One. There is no unity that is in any way like His. He alone is our G-d He was, He is, and He will be.

Quote:

We believe that this Primal Cause [G-d] is One. [His is] not like the oneness of a pair, nor like the oneness of a species, nor like man, whose complex oneness may be divided into many units, nor like the oneness of a simple body, which is one in number but may be divided and separated without end. Rather, He is One with a Oneness that knows no parallel in any manner. This is the Second Principle, as affirmed by the verse (Deut. 6:4): "Hear O Israel, God is our Lord, God is One."

-- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith

now this is where some sects of christianity will start to differ w/ judaism. This is especially true for Trinitarianism. Maimonides is saying, under no circumstances, can HaShem be viewed in parts, He is One and indivisable. Period. To view Him in parts would be to make Him finite in some way, which goes against traditional Judaism.
He is a singular being in a way that we can't begin to comprehend. And it is through this concept of Unity that any concepts of polytheism are rejected. More of this will be continued in following discussions on Maimonides' views on HaShem in Principles 3 and 4.

some more stuff here.

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi..._Principle.asp

Jewscout · #5 (**permalink**) 21st June 2005, 10:03 PM

3. I believe with perfect faith that G-d does not have a body. physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoever that resembles Him at all.

Quote:

We believe that this Oneness is neither a body nor a bodily force, nor is He subject to any bodily characteristics -- movement, rest, or dwelling -- be they inherent or by chance. Therefore the Sages repudiated [the possibility of any] cohesion or separation [concerning Him], as they said: "Above there is no sitting, standing, division, or 'cohesion'" (a usage based on Isaiah 11:14). As the prophet (ibid., 40:18-25) said: "Who is comparable to the Almighty...?" For if He had a body, He could be compared to other bodies.

All the corporeal terms used in the Scriptures to describe Him -- such as walking, standing, sitting, speaking etc. -- are metaphorical. As the Sages have said: "The Torah speaks in the language of man."

This is the third Principle, as affirmed by the verse (Deuteronomy 4:15) "You have not seen any image," that is to say, you cannot conceive of Him as having any form because, as stated, He is neither a body nor a bodily force.

-- Maimonides, 13 Principles of Faith

another breaking point between Judaism and some sects of Christianity that believe Jesus to actually be G-d as well. If He were to have a physical form it would make Him, on some level, finite. Also if He had a physical form, one could make an image of Him and this would lead to one of the greatest sins in Judaism, Idolatry.

for some other perspectives on this principle check out...
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi...rporeality.asp

Jewscout · #6 (**permalink**) 22nd June 2005, 04:56 PM

4. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is first and last

Quote:

We believe that this Oneness is necessarily primary. All that exists other than Him is not primary in relationship to Him. There are many references in the Scriptures. This is the fourth Principle, as affirmed by the verse (Deuteronomy 33:27): "God who preceded [all existence] is a refuge..."

-- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith

this seems to almost be a repetition of the first principle. Essentially what Maimonides is saying here is that G-d, HaShem, has no beginning nor does He have an end. this goes to the question, who created G-d? Maimonides is saying, nothing did, He has always been there.

for more on this concept...
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi..._Ex_Nihilo.asp

Jewscout · #7 (**permalink**) 22nd June 2005, 07:08 PM

5. I believe with perfect faith that it is only proper to pray to G-d. One may not pray to anyone or anything else

Quote:

He [God], may He be blessed, is the only One whom it is proper to serve [worship], to praise, to make known His grandeur, and to fulfill His commandments. This should not be done to any entity that is subservient to Him, be it the angels, the stars, the planets, or the elements or their compounds. For their activity is programmed. They have no control, and no choice but to perform His will. Thus it is improper to serve them as intermediaries in order to come close to God. Rather, one should direct his thoughts toward the Almighty alone and abandon anything other than Him. This is the fifth Principle, warning us against idolatry, as affirmed throughout the Torah.

-- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith

This 5th principle deals with the affirmation to pray soley to G-d and to not to pray to other beings or people. This also ties into the prohibition against Idolatry. Under no circumstances may a jew pray to any other being even as an intermidiary. Period.
again this is where Judaism tends to differ with some sects of christianity, the biggest of which is Catholicism with their saints, the trinity, virgin mary, etc.
it should be noted that for a non-jew, they have the luxury and right to pray in this manner, but it is not meant for a Jew.

some more stuff here...

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi...ice_of_God.asp

Jewscout · #8 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2005, 08:28 PM

6. I believe with prefect faith that all the words of the prophets are true.

Quote:

Man should know that there are men of great ability and perfection whose souls are primed to receive pure intellectual form. Their human intellect cleaves to this active intellect and receives a profound emanation. These [men] are prophets and this [process] is prophecy. To explain this Principle with clarity would be lengthy and our intention is neither to adduce proofs for each Principle nor to present a complete elaboration of each, for this would encompass the Principles. Numerous verses in the Torah attest to the prophecy of our many prophets.

-- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith

This principle deals with the subjects of the Prophets. It is believed that a select group of people had a connection to HaShem that gave them divine insight and visions. It is said that for a prophet to be considered a prophet he must predict, through Divine revelation, a positive event. It is believed that visions HaShem provides of negative events can be changed to the prophecy of a negative event, whether it happens or not, does not verify that one is a prophet. If a vision is given by HaShem of a positive event AND it happens, then it is safe to say that this person could be a prophet. The reasoning behind this is that we can prevent the negative through our actions and prayers, so to change the decision of HaShem, but HaShem can not promise the positive and take it away. So if a person predicts a positive occurance through divine revelation and it comes to pass, then there is reason to suspect that person is a prophet...
taken from Aryeh Kaplan's "Maimonides' Principles" http://www.ou.org/publications/kaplan.html#faith

more info here...
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi...e_Prophecy.asp

Jewscout · #9 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2005, 08:38 PM

7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses is absolutely true. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and after Him.

Quote:

We believe that [Moshe Rabbeinu] is the father of all the prophets before and after him, all of whom were beneath him in stature. He was chosen above all mankind, achieving a greater knowledge of the Almighty than anyone before or since. Moshe Rabbeinu reached a level that surpasses human attainment and approximates the angelic. There was no barrier that he did not penetrate, no physical limitation that hindered him, and no imperfection large or small [to impede him]. In achieving this [level], he lost his sensual and imaginative faculties; his drives and desires ceased, leaving only his pure intellect. Concerning this it is said that Moshe communicated with God without any angelic intermediary.

-- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith

of all the prophets Moses is the greatest of them all. While other prophets communicated to HaShem through Angels or in dreams, Moses did not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Num. 12:6-8

And He said: 'Hear now My words: if there be a prophet among you, I HaShem do make Myself known unto him in a vision, I do speak with him in a dream.
My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house;
with him do I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of HaShem doth he behold...

it is based on this and other verses that it is believed he was in the presense of HaShem in the most direct way a human being can possibly be...

for more check out...

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi...of_Moses .asp

Jewscout · #10 (**permalink**) 23rd June 2005, 11:15 PM

8. I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that we now have is that which was given to Moses.

Quote:

We believe that the entire Torah in our possession was given [to us] by the Almighty through Moshe Rabbeinu, by means of the medium we metaphorically call "speech." No one knows the real nature of this communication except Moshe, to whom it was transmitted. He was like a scribe receiving dictation. He wrote the history, the stories, and the commandments. Therefore he is called "[the] inscriber."

There is no difference between "And the sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan" (Genesis 10:6), "And his wife's name was Mehetabele, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Meizahav" (Genesis 36:39), "And Timna was concubine to..." (Genesis 36:12), and "I am God, your Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt" ( Deuteronomy 5:6), and "Hear O Israel, God is our Lord, God is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4). For it is all from God; it is all God's perfect Torah, pure, holy and true.

He who says that these verses and stories were invented by Moshe is considered by our Sages and prophets to be more heretical and misleading than any other heretic. For he believes that the Torah contains both relevant and irrelevant verses, and he sees the historical passages as useless, and as Moshe's innovations. [He is included among those who say that] the Torah is not from God. [Even] he who believes that the entire Torah was given by God except for one verse (which Moshe wrote) has "disgraced the word of God" (Numbers 15:3). May God rise above the words of the heretics.

Every word in the Torah has wisdom and wondrous insights for those who understand them; [the Torah's] wisdom is unfathomable. [The Torah is] "longer than the earth and wider than the sea." One can only follow in the footsteps of David, God's Messiah, who prayed, "Open my eyes that I may behold the wonders of Your Torah" (Psalms 119:18).

The authoritative explanation of the Torah was communicated by God, and the way we observe the commandments of sukkah, lulav, shofar, tzitzis, tefillin etc., is exactly as God instructed Moshe. He [Moshe] was the faithful conduit [of the Oral Law].

This is the eighth Principle, as affirmed by the verse:

"With this you will know that the Almighty sent me to do all these things, for I have not done them of my own mind." (Numbers 16:28)

-- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith

this 8th principle holds that that Torah, both the Written and Oral Torah, were given by HaShem to the Jewish people at Sinai, it is the same that was given 3500 years ago. Also the belief that it was of Divine origin.

some more info for ya'll...

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/phi...he_To rah.asp

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