Fundamental Judaism
(from Understanding Judaism: The Basics of
Deed and Creed, Benjamin Blech, London: Jason Aronsom, inc., 1992)
Thirteen Fundamental Principles of Belief
1. ...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....that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is a Unity, and that
there is no Unity in any manner like unto His, and that He alone is our
God who was, is, and will be.
3. ...that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body and that
He is free from all the properties of matter, and that He has not any form
whatsoever.
4. ...that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the First and the
Last.
5. ...that unto Him alone, it is right to pray, and that it is not
right to pray to any being besides Him.
6. ...that all the words of the Prophets are true.
*7. ...that the prophecy of Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him,
was true, and that he was the chief of the
P rophets, both those who preceded him and those who followed him.
8. ...that the whole Torah now in our possession is the same that
was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him.
*9. ...that this Torah will not be exchanged, and that there will
never be any other law from the Creator, blessed be His name for ever and
ever.
10. ...that theCreator, blessed be His Name, knows every deed of
the children of men, and all their thoughts, as it is said, "It is
He that fashioneth the hearts of them all that give heed to all their works.
"
11. ...that the Creator, blessed be His Name, rewards those that
keep His commandments, and punishes t hose that trangress them.
*12. ...in the coming of the Messiah, and though he tarry, I will
wait daily for his coming.
13. ...that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when
it shall please the Creator, blessed be His Name and exalted be His Name
forever and ever.
Ten Basic Categories or Principles
(Core of 613 Mitzvot)
|
1. I am the Lord your God.
|
6. You shall not murder. |
| 2. You shall not have other gods before me. |
7. You shall not commit adultery. |
| 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. |
8. You shall not steal. |
| 4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. |
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. |
| 5. Honor your father and mother. |
10. You shall not covet |
Three Pillars of Human Existence
|
Torah
|
Jacob (study)--Head |
Repentance |
Individual |
| Sacrifice (offering) |
Issac (except for grace)--Soul |
Prayer |
God |
| Acts of Kindness |
Abraham (hospitality)--Heart |
Charity |
People |
Three Moments When One Should Be Willing to Die Involving Three Cardinal
Sins
| Sexual imorality |
Example: in situation of hostility, to be commanded to have sexual
relations with a family member for pleasure of observors. Halakhic answer:
"better to be killed than violate." |
| Shedding of blood |
Abel's bloods (plural in Hebrew, so bloods shed, not blood shed)
cry out. All of Abel's potential descendents have also been killed. Commanded
to murder someone or be killed, Jewish response is "Better to be victim
than villain." |
| Idolatry |
Worship idol and be spared (many times in history: Hanah's seven
sons all murdered by Antiochus for refusing to bow down to the idol. "Better
to die than live separated from God." |