What Do Jews Believe?
What Do Jews Believe? What Are the Basic Beliefs of Judaism?
Judaism does not have a specific credo that Jews must accept in order to be considered Jewish. Nevertheless, there are a few overarching tenets that most Jews accept in some form. These include a belief in only One God, a belief that humanity was created in the Divine Image, a feeling of connection to the greater Jewish community and a belief in the pivotal importance of the Torah, our most holy text.
Judaism does not have a specific credo that Jews must accept in order to be considered Jewish. Nevertheless, there are a few overarching tenets that most Jews accept in some form. These include a belief in only One God, a belief that humanity was created in the Divine Image, a feeling of connection to the greater Jewish community and a belief in the pivotal importance of the Torah, our most holy text.
The Principles:
Written as part of the rabbi's commentary on the Mishnah in Sanhedrin 10, these are the Thirteen Principles that are considered core to Judaism, and specifically within the Orthodox community.
1. The belief in the existence of the God, the Creator.
2. The belief in God's absolute and unparalleled unity.
3. The belief that God is incorporeal. God will not be affected by any physical occurrences, such as movement, or rest, or dwelling.
4. The belief that God is eternal.
5. The imperative to worship God and no false gods; all prayer should be directed only to God.
6. The belief that God communicates with man through prophecy and that this prophecy is true.
7. The belief in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher.
8. The belief in the divine origin of the Torah -- both the Written and the Oral (Talmud).
9. The belief in the immutability of the Torah.
10. The belief in God's omniscience and providence, that God knows the thoughts and deeds of man.
11. The belief in divine reward and retribution.
12. The belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era.
13. The belief in the resurrection of the dead.
Written as part of the rabbi's commentary on the Mishnah in Sanhedrin 10, these are the Thirteen Principles that are considered core to Judaism, and specifically within the Orthodox community.
1. The belief in the existence of the God, the Creator.
2. The belief in God's absolute and unparalleled unity.
3. The belief that God is incorporeal. God will not be affected by any physical occurrences, such as movement, or rest, or dwelling.
4. The belief that God is eternal.
5. The imperative to worship God and no false gods; all prayer should be directed only to God.
6. The belief that God communicates with man through prophecy and that this prophecy is true.
7. The belief in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher.
8. The belief in the divine origin of the Torah -- both the Written and the Oral (Talmud).
9. The belief in the immutability of the Torah.
10. The belief in God's omniscience and providence, that God knows the thoughts and deeds of man.
11. The belief in divine reward and retribution.
12. The belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era.
13. The belief in the resurrection of the dead.
