The 13 Principles of Faith

The Rambam, in his commentary on the Mishnayos (end of Maseches Brachos), writes: “More precious to me than all the other topics, is to teach about ikrei daas v’emunah, the fundamentals of Judaism andemunah!” The Rambam, our great teacher, whose teachings encompassthe entire Torah, is telling us that the subject most important for him to disseminate is ikrei daas v’emunah. In fact, the Rambam is the one who organized and delineated the famous thirteen principles of emunah in Perek Chelek in Maseches Sanhedrin. Later on, they were made popular As heard from Rav Yisrael Ginsburg, shlita, a grandson of the Mashgiach and amaggid shiur in the Yeshivah of Staten Island. THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITHin the famous Ani Ma’amins and in the Yigdal tefilah, which are in the siddur and based on the Rambam’s thirteen ikrei emunah.The thirteen Ani Ma’amins can be divided into three groups. The firstgroup is comprised of principles relating to Hashem’s existence. These include: 1) Believing that Hashem exists; 2) Believing in His Oneness, i.e., that He is not comprised of parts; 3) He is not physical or tangible; 4) He always existed and is eternal; 5) We serve Him alone. The second group is comprised of principles relating to Hiscommunication with us and our relationship and obligations towardsHim. These include: 6) Nevuah, prophecy; 7) Moshe Rabbeinu’sprophecy; 8) Torah min haShamayim, Torah is Divine; 9) The Torah isunchanging. Finally, the third group is is comprised of principles relating topurpose, destiny, and eternity. These include: 10) Hashem observesand directs the world; 11) Reward and punishment; 12) Anticipating thearrival of Moshiach; 13) Techiyas Hameisim, Revival of the Dead — the real and ultimate life.