1. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.
2. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is One. There is no unity that is in any way like His. He alone is our G-d. He was, He is, and He will be.
3. I believe with perfect faith that G-d does not have a body. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoever that resembles Him at all.
4. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is first and last.
5. I believe with perfect faith that it is only proper to pray to G-d. One may not pray to anyone or anything else.
6. I believe with perfect faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses is absolutely true. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and after Him.
8. I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that we now have is that which was given to Moses.
9. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed and that there will never be another given by G-d.
10. I believe with perfect faith that G-d knows all of man’s deeds and thoughts. It is thus written (Psalm 33:15), “He has molded every heart together, He understands what each one does.”
11. I believe with perfect faith that G-d rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those who transgress Him.
12. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. How long it takes, I will await His coming every day.
13. I believe with perfect faith that the dead will be brought back to life when G-d wills it to happen.
Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith
Every single conversion syllabus and potential beit din question list asks about Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith. Rambam’s list attempts to distill the key ideas of Judaism. If you can not accept these principles, you cannot convert orthodox. I don’t know how the other movements stand on these principles, but I was required to know about them for my conservative conversion.
I don’t know of a single person who has these memorized, convert or born-Jew. However, you should know this list exists and you should be able to discuss these concepts as being an integral part of Judaism. In other words, while you shouldn’t need to memorize them, you should be able to have a conversation with your beit din about these concepts and recognize them as essential to Jewish belief. You should be able to volunteer at least most of them as orthodox beliefs, though not necessarily as a list.
Note: Rambam is also known as Maimonides. Don’t confuse him with RambaN, who is also known as Nachmanides. RambaM and RambaN are acronyms. (See Reason #827 You Know You’re Crazy: Drowning in Acronyms.)
Here is a page that translates Maimonides’ 13 Foundations of Judaism at Mesora.org. It states the concepts underlying each of these principles.
Bruch says
I think a lot of people do have them memorized, if not word for word. Most know the prayer Yigdal by heart, and Yigdal basically restates the 13 principles.
Unknown says
It is worth noting that Rambam's actual 13 principals of faith were written at great length. The 13 one-line summaries we have today were written after his death, and actually conflict Rambam's idea according to many scholars.
As an example, it seem quite clear that Rambam did not believe the second half of #12.
CrazyJewishConvert says
Thanks, Noah! A very important point!
Bruch, I agree, but just because someone has Yigdal memorized doesn't mean that they know what it means in English! The average conversion candidate (and many born Jews!) will not speak/read Hebrew at nearly that level.
Anonymous says
I'm not required to know them or agree. I would not have been required to agree to convert with our local Conservative Rabbi either (he told me my beliefs were person and didn't have to be shared). I do know them for the most part and agree with some but not all of them.
Susan B says
I wonder what is meant by "Torah" in number 8. Is it the 5 books of Moses in the sefer torah, or does it include the whole Tanakh, or does it include what is sometimes called the oral torah as well?
Sh'mon says
The Written Torah is the 5 books of Moshe. The Oral Torah is written by the Sanhendrin over thousands of years.
Regarding the principles of faith, I have a hard time with #3. In the Torah, we see the Eternal, Blessed is He, dining and communicating visibly to many. For example: in Sinai, Mosheh, peace be upon him, ate with the Eternal. So did Avraham Avinu with the three men while he was in his tent. Gomer, the egyptian, claimed to have seen the Eternal. Moshe saw the backside of the Eternal, and many more.
I am a strict Torah observant Jew, payot, tzitzis and all, but this I cannot adhere to. Can someone explain this?
Anonymous says
Please read Rambam's Mishneh Torah. He writes (and proves in his Guide for the Perplexed) that any physical reference to G-d is necessarily allegorical etc.
Anonymous says
WOW!! thanks a lot!!!
Rachamim Slonim Dwek says
Anonymous is correct. Even within the 13 Principles it states that G-d cannpt be defined in any physical terms nor be contained within any physical form. G-d transcends physicality. As Anonymous stated, Maimonides states several times throughpit his voluminous works (as do umpteenth Sages) that any physical reference to G-d is allegorical.
Anonymous says
Anna is God messiah is his son who spoke the teachings of his father not himself
Rachamim Slonim Dwek says
Dena: And that is why Conservatives are deemed Apostates. Conversion to Conservative is just that. You arent considered Jewish by anyone but the Post Haskalah Assimilationist movements:Reform, British Reform, Liberal, Conservative, Reconstruction, Humanist, etc. Orthodoxy for lack of a better term (in Israel we simply call it Traditonal) is the only way to be deemed Jewish universally.