The 13 Principles of Emuná - Faith

 

Ani Maamin Be'Emunah Shelema - The 13 Principles of Faith

Below is a structured, formatted version of the content on the 13 Principles of Jewish Faith, compiled by Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon (Maimonides, or the Rambam). The content has been organized into clear sections with headings, lists, and emphasis, improving readability with Markdown syntax.

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Introduction to the 13 Principles of Faith

The great codifier of Torah law and Jewish philosophy, Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon Ztz”L (known as "Maimonides" or "The Rambam"), compiled the Shloshah Asar Ikkarim, or the "Thirteen Fundamental Principles" of the Jewish faith. These principles are a cornerstone of Jewish belief and help maintain faithfulness to the Boreh (The Creator), the G-d of Abraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'akov. Maimonides refers to these as "the fundamental truths of our religion and its very foundations."

• Origin: Derived from the Torah.
• Purpose: To guide Jewish belief and practice.
• Daily Practice: Often recited during morning prayers (Shacharit) in the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book) as "Ani Maamin" ("I Believe").

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The Thirteen Principles of Faith (Emunah)

1. Belief in the existence of the Creator, who is perfect in every manner of existence and is the Primary Cause of all that exists.
2. Belief in G-d's absolute and unparalleled unity.
3. Belief in G-d's non-corporeality, meaning He is not affected by physical occurrences such as movement, rest, or dwelling.
4. Belief in G-d's eternity.
5. Imperative to worship G-d exclusively and reject foreign false gods.
6. Belief that G-d communicates with man through prophecy.
7. Belief in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher.
8. Belief in the divine origin of the Torah.
9. Belief in the immutability of the Torah.
10. Belief in G-d's omniscience and providence.
11. Belief in divine reward and retribution.
12. Belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era.
13. Belief in the resurrection of the dead.

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Detailed Explanation of Each Principle

Principle I: G-d is the Only and Unique Self-Existing One

• Core Belief: We are commanded to know that G-d exists and created all things. Judaism is based on strict monotheism and belief in a unique, indivisible G-d.
• Key Prayer: The "Shema Yisrael" encapsulates this monotheistic essence: "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Ehad" ("Hear, O Israel: Hashem is our G-d; Hashem is one").
• Explanation: G-d is the absolute source of reality. Without His constant sustenance, everything would revert to nothingness. This is reflected in morning prayers like "Baruch Ata Adonai, Yotzer Ha Me’orot" ("Blessed are You, Hashem who fashions the great luminaries").

Principle II: G-d is One, with Absolute and Unparalleled Unity

• Core Belief: G-d is One, not two or more, with a unity unlike any created existence.
• Rejection of Plurality: The Torah and Jewish teachings reject polytheism, dualism, and trinitarianism (referred to as "Shituf" or "partnership"), as they are incompatible with Jewish monotheism.
• Explanation: G-d cannot be divided into parts or components like created beings. His unity is unique and independent of external needs or partnerships.

Principle III: G-d is Incorporeal – Without a Body

• Core Belief: G-d has no physical body or dimensions. His unity is not like a genus with species or a body with parts.
• Maimonides’ View: In the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides states that believing G-d is corporeal is heretical, though some debate this severity.
• Jewish Perspective: While debates on Halachic rules are valued in Judaism, the principle of G-d's incorporeality remains fundamental.

Principle IV: Hashem Has No Beginning and No End

• Core Belief: G-d existed before all else and is eternal. There is no other G-d besides Hashem, as stated in Exodus 20:2 and Isaiah 43:10-11: "Before Me there was no G-d formed, neither will there be any after Me."
• Scholarly Views: Some commentators like Abraham Ibn Ezra suggest interpretations of creation (e.g., G-d sculpting from eternal matter), but the principle of G-d’s eternity remains central.

Principle V: The Only One to Be Worshipped

• Core Belief: G-d is the sole object of worship and praise. One should pray directly to G-d, not through intermediaries.
• Clarification: While some prayers (e.g., Selichot or Shalom Aleichem) mention angels, worship and adoration must be directed only to G-d to avoid idolatry.

Principle VI: His Prophets Are True

• Definition of a Prophet: A spokesman for G-d, chosen to convey messages or teachings. Prophets are role models of holiness and closeness to G-d.
• Scope: Prophecy is not just foreseeing the future but includes spiritual and ethical leadership. There were hundreds of thousands of prophets, though only 55 are named in Scripture.
• Inclusivity: Prophets include women (e.g., Sarah) and non-Jews (e.g., Balaam), though Israelite prophets are considered more elevated.
• Daniel’s Classification: Daniel is not considered a prophet in Judaism; his writings are in the "Writings" section of the Tanakh, not "Prophets," as his visions were for future generations, not immediate proclamation.

Principle VII: There Has Never Been Anyone Greater Than Moses

• Core Belief: Moshe Rabbenu (Moses our Teacher) was the greatest prophet, with unparalleled direct communication with G-d ("mouth-to-mouth," Numbers 12:6-8).
• Unique Role: Moses received the entire Torah from G-d and taught 613 mitzvot (commandments). No other prophet or teacher, past or future, matches his comprehension of G-d.
• Life Highlights:
  • Born on 7 Adar, 2368 from Creation (circa 1400 BCE).
  • Named "Moses" (from "taken out" of the river) by Pharaoh’s daughter.
  • Led Israel out of Egypt, received the Torah at Sinai, and wrote the Five Books under G-d’s dictation.
  • Died in 2488 before entering the Promised Land; succeeded by Joshua, not his son Gershom.
• Legacy: Moses saw all future prophecies and writings, ensuring no contradiction in later Scriptures.

Principle VIII: The Torah and Its Oral Part Were Received from Heaven

• Core Belief: The Torah we have today is the same as given to Moses at Sinai, including the Written Torah (Five Books) and Oral Torah (later recorded in the Talmud).
• Transmission: Moses wrote the Five Books under G-d’s direct instruction and established a judicial system with Yitro’s advice to handle legal cases (Exodus 18:13-26).

Principle IX: No One is Authorized to Add or Remove from the Torah

• Core Belief: The Torah is immutable; nothing can be added or subtracted, and G-d will never give another Torah. There is no "Old" or "New Testament" in Judaism.
• Definition of Torah: Refers to the Five Books, the entire Tanakh (Written Torah), and the broader body of Jewish law and teachings, including Oral Torah.
• Misinterpretation of Covenant (Brit): The concept of a "New Testament" misinterprets prophecies like Jeremiah 31:32-34, which speaks of a future covenant where Torah is written on hearts, not a new book or law.
• Clarification: "Covenant" (Brit) is not synonymous with Torah but refers to specific agreements (e.g., Shabbat, circumcision) G-d made with humanity.

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Additional Notes and Practices

• Daily Recitation: Many congregations recite the 13 Principles at the end of Shacharit prayers, often in the poetic form starting with "Ani Maamin" ("I Believe").
• Purpose of Principles: These principles are not just beliefs but guideposts for living a life of Emunah (faithfulness) to G-d.

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Bibliography

• Moshe Ben Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides): Mishneh Torah
• Abraham Ibn Ezra
• ArtScroll Series (Siddur)
• Torah: Exodus 20:2; Tanakh: Isaiah 43:10-11
• Resources: Chabad Moshiach 101, Judaism 101, Aish, Torah.com

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Copyright and Additional Resources

• Copyright: © 2015 ABA - EYBO
• Themes: Faithfulness to Yah, 13 Principles, Emunah, Rav Moshe Ben Maimon ZTz”L
• Access: Links to download a copy of the eBook or read the book online were provided in the original content.

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