The-13-Principles

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Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2“Mechon-Mamre.org (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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 “13 Principles of the Hebrew Faith”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Please Note: In this, and all my studies, I have translated the rather poor ancient rabbinic translations, such as ‘god’ back into the correct Ivrit - Hebrew, being אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

When it comes to the much loved Sacred Name of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, I have placed the correct four letter Name, as ‘Yod He Vav He’ being יְהוָה (pronounced as YaH’VaH); however whenever we hear, or see it, we should say, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name’!

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The 13 Principles of the Hebrew Faith:

Written in the 12th century by the remarkable Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, also known as “Maimonides” or “Rambam”, ‘the Thirteen Principles of Hebrew Faith’ (‘Shloshah Asar Ikkarim’) are considered the “fundamental truths of our religion and its very foundations”. The treatise is also known as the Thirteen Attributes of Faith or the Thirteen Creeds.

How did these Principles come about?:

It was written due to the Rambam’s remarkable faith, thus since then the “Thirteen Principles” are considered to be the very core of our beloved Hebraic faith!

These are the Thirteen Principles:

1...   I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the author and guide of everything that has been created, and that He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.

2...   I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is a unity. And there is no unity in any manner like unto His, and that He alone is our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) who was, is and will be.

3...   I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body, and that He is free from all properties of matter, and that He has not any form whatsoever.

4...   I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the first and the last.

5...   I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, and to Him alone, is the right to pray, and that it is not right to pray to any being, besides Him.

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

7...   I believe with perfect faith that the prophesy of Moses our teacher, peace be unto him, was true, and that he was our chief of prophets, both of those that proceeded and those that followed.

8...   I believe with perfect faith that the whole Torah, now in our possession, is the same that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him.

9...   I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed and there will not be any other law from the Creator, blessed be His Name.

10... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, knows every deed of the children of man, and all their thoughts, as it is said. It is He that fashioned the hearts of them all that giveth heed to all their works.

11... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, rewards those that keep His commandments, and punishes those that transgress them.

12... I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and, though He tarry, I wait daily for His coming.

13... I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the end of time, when it shall please the Creator, blessed be His Name, and exalted be His Name forever and ever, for thy salvation I hope, Oh יְהוָה - LORD.

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The Thirteen Principles are divided into three groups:

1. The first five speak of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God). 2. The next four speak of Divine Revelation and 3. The last four speak of Divine Providence and Justice.

1... Principles, 1 to 5; “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and His Attributes”. The belief in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the foundation of all Religion. Belief in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the conviction that there exists a being who is the Creator and Ruler of the whole Universe, to whom we are responsible for all our deeds, words and thoughts. This being we call אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. We do not see Him, we cannot form any definite notion or image of Him, for He is beyond all human imagination and conception. We know of Him from His works and His Words.

2... Principles, 6 to 9; “Revelation and Prophecy”. A Prophet is a person who has received a Divine communication and the charge to communicate it to his fellow-men. He has no other knowledge of the future, but that which has been revealed to him by . In other things his knowledge is human and natural such is accessible to all. The process, by which the Prophets learn the will of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, is called inspiration. The Prophet is an inspired man that is a man endowed with the Spirit of יְהוָה - the LORD. The Prophets were also holy men; their minds were filled with pure thoughts, their deeds were noble and their conduct blameless. They were men of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, or servants of יְהוָה - the LORD, because their life was wholly devoted to the service of יְהוָה - the LORD. They were trustworthy men and all their words were true.

3... Principles, 10 to 13; “Providence and Justice”. The first five principles having expressed the belief in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, His Unity, In corporeality Eternity and Omnipotence, and the next four belief in the fact that the Almighty has made His will known to mankind through His Prophets, the remaining principles are related to the consequence of man’s obedience or disobedience to the Creator, Blessed be His Sanctified Name!

The Thirteen Principles conclude with the following:

“When all these foundations are perfectly understood and believed in by a person he or she enters the community of Israel and one is obligated to love them … But if a one doubts any of these foundations, they sadly have left their community (of Israel), denying the fundamentals, and is therefore called a ‘sectarian’.

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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hostsMal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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