Chapter 9: Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith
Pages 156-163
Maimonides
--also known as Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, or Rambam--compiled and composed the thirteen principles of Jewish faith. He is often compared in greatness to Moses and towers above his peers among medieval Jewish thinkers and leaders.
The thirteen principles of faith are included in every Jewish prayer book, and are recited as a liturgical hymn at the conclusion of a Friday or Festival service. This recitation is known as the Yigdal and embodies Judaism's fundamental pillars of trandional belief, just as the Apostles' or the Nicene Creeds do for Christians.
|
Principle 1 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the Creator and Guide for all created beings. He alone made, makes, and will make all that is created. |
|
Principle 2 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is a Unity, and there is no union in any way like Him. He alone is our God, who was, who is, and who is to be. |
|
Principle 3 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is not a body, is not affected by physical matter, and nothing whatsoever can compare to Him [or be compared with Him]. |
|
Principle 4 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the first and is the last. |
|
Principle 5 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, to Him alone is it fitting to make prayer and to another prayer shall not be made. |
|
Principle 6 |
|
I believe by complete faith that all the words of the prophets are true. |
|
Principle 7 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the prophesy of Moses our teacher, may peace rest upon him, was true and that he was the father of all prophets that preceded him as well as all that came after him. |
|
Principle 8 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the whole Torah now found in our hands was the exact same one given to Moses, may peace rest upon him. |
|
Principle 9 |
|
I believe by complete faith that this is the Torah, and it shall not be changed and it shall not be replaced with another from the Creator, blessed be His name. |
|
Principle 10 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, knows every action done by each human being as well as all their thoughts, as it was said, "It is He that fashions their hearts together and He ponders all ther deeds" [Ps. 33:15]. |
|
Principle 11 |
|
I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, rewards all who keep His commandments and punishes all those who transgress His commands. |
|
Principle 12 |
|
I believe by complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he tarry in waiting, in spite of that, I will still wait expectantly for him each day that he will come |
|
Principle 13 |
|
I believe by complete faith that there will be a resurrection of the dead at the time that will be pleasing before the Creator, blessed be His name, and the remembrance of Him will be exalted forever and for all eternity. |
These thirteen principles of fatih form the foundation for ancient Jewish belief.
