Jewish principles of faith

Judaism has no central religious authority that could formulate or issue a unified creed. The various "principles of faith" that have been enumerated over the intervening centuries carry no greater weight than that imparted to them by the fame and scholarship of their respective authors. Central authority in Judaism is not vested in any person or group but rather in Judaism's sacred writings, laws, and traditions. In nearly all its variations, Judaism affirms the existence and uniqueness of God . Judaism stresses performance of deeds or commandments rather than adherence to a belief system. Orthodox Judaism has stressed a number of core principles in its educational programs, most importantly a belief that there is a single, omniscient and transcendent God , who created the universe , and continues to be concerned with its governance. Traditional Judaism maintains that God established a covenant with the Jewish people at Mount Sinai , and revealed his laws and commandments to them in the form of the Torah . In Rabbinic Judaism , the Torah comprises both the written Torah ( Pentateuch ) and a tradition of oral law, much of it codified in later sacred writings. Traditionally, the practice of Judaism has been devoted to the study of Torah and observance of these laws and commandments. In normative Judaism, the Torah and hence Jewish law itself is unchanging, but interpretation of law is more open. It is considered a mitzvah (commandment) to study and understand the law.

Central authority in Judaism is not vested in any person or group - although the Sanhedrin , the supreme Jewish religious court, would fulfill this role when it is re-established - but rather in Judaism's sacred writings , laws , and traditions . The various principles of faith that have been enumerated over the intervening centuries carry no weight other than that imparted to them by the fame and scholarship of their respective authors. Judaism affirms the existence and uniqueness of God and stresses performance of deeds or commandments alongside adherence to a strict belief system. In contrast to traditions such as Christianity which demand a more explicit identification of God, faith in Judaism requires one to honour God through a constant struggle with God's instructions ( Torahs ) and the practice of their mitzvoth . Orthodox Judaism has stressed a number of core principles in its educational programs, most importantly a belief that there is one single, omniscient , transcendent , non-compound God , who created the universe , and continues to be concerned with its governance. Traditional Judaism maintains that God established a covenant with the Jewish people at Mount Sinai , and revealed his laws and 613 commandments to them in the form of the Written and Oral Torah . In Rabbinic Judaism , the Torahs (Hebrew "Toroth") comprise both the written Torah ( Pentateuch ) and a tradition of oral law, much of it later codified in sacred writings (see: Mishna , Talmud ). Traditionally, the practice of Judaism has been devoted to the study of Torah and observance of these laws and commandments. In normative Judaism, the Torah and hence Jewish law itself is unchanging, but interpretation of law is more open. It is considered a mitzvah (commandment) to study and understand the law. The proper counterpart for the general English term "faith" -as occurring in the expression "principles of faith"- would be the concept of Emunah in Judaism. The concept of Emunah, while in general translated as faith or trust in God, is described as "an innate conviction, a perception of truth that transcends (..) reason ." Emunah can be enhanced further by the help of wisdom , knowledge , understanding and learning of sacred Jewish writings. But Emunah is not simplistically based on reason nor can it be understood as an opposite or contrast to it. There are a number of basic principles that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities. These principles were put forth as fundamental underpinnings inherent in the "acceptance and practice of Judaism." Emunah

Central authority in Judaism is not vested in any one person or group - although the Sanhedrin , the supreme Jewish religious court, would fulfill this role if it were re-established - but rather in Judaism's sacred writings , laws , and traditions . Judaism affirms the existence and uniqueness of God , and stresses performance of deeds or commandments alongside adherence to a strict belief system. In contrast to traditions such as Christianity which demand a more explicit identification of God, faith in Judaism requires one to honour God through a constant struggle with God's instructions ( Torah ) and the practice of their mitzvot . Orthodox Judaism stresses a number of core principles in its educational programs, most importantly a belief that there is one single, omniscient , transcendent , non-compound God , who created the universe , and continues to be concerned with its governance. Traditional Judaism maintains that God established a covenant with the Jewish people at Mount Sinai , and revealed his laws and 613 commandments to them in the form of the Written and Oral Torah . In Rabbinic Judaism , the Torah consists of both the written Torah ( Pentateuch ) and a tradition of oral law, much of it later codified in sacred writings (see: Mishna , Talmud ). Traditionally, the practice of Judaism has been devoted to the study of Torah and observance of its laws and commandments. In normative Judaism, the Torah, and hence Jewish law itself, is unchanging, but interpretation of the law is more open. It is considered a mitzvah (commandment) to study and understand the law. The proper counterpart for the general English term "faith" - as occurring in the expression "principles of faith" - would be the concept of Emunah in Judaism. While it is generally translated as faith or trust in God, the concept of Emunah can more accurately be described as "an innate conviction, a perception of truth that transcends (...) reason ". Emunah can be enhanced through wisdom , knowledge , understanding , and learning of sacred Jewish writings. But Emunah is not simply based on reason , nor can it be understood as the opposite of, or standing in contrast to, reason. There are a number of basic principles that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities. These are put forth as fundamental underpinnings inherent in the "acceptance and practice of Judaism".

Central authority in Judaism is not vested in any one person or group - although the Sanhedrin , the supreme Jewish religious court, would fulfill this role if it were re-established - but rather in Judaism's sacred writings , laws , and traditions . Judaism affirms the existence and uniqueness of God , and stresses performance of deeds or commandments alongside adherence to a strict belief system. In contrast to traditions such as Christianity which demand a more explicit identification of God, faith in Judaism requires one to honour God through a constant struggle with God's instructions ( Torah ) and the practice of their mitzvot . Orthodox Judaism stresses a number of core principles in its educational programs, most importantly a belief that there is one single, omniscient , transcendent , non-compound God , who created the universe , and continues to be concerned with its governance. Traditional Judaism maintains that God established a covenant with the Jewish people at Mount Sinai , and revealed his laws and 613 commandments to them in the form of the Written and Oral Torah . In Rabbinic Judaism , the Torah consists of both the written Torah ( Pentateuch ) and a tradition of oral law, much of it later codified in sacred writings (see: Mishna , Talmud ). Traditionally, the practice of Judaism has been devoted to the study of Torah and observance of its laws and commandments. In normative Judaism, the Torah, and hence Jewish law itself, is unchanging, but interpretation of the law is more open. It is considered a mitzvah (commandment) to study and understand the law. The proper counterpart for the general English term "faith" - as occurring in the expression "principles of faith" - would be the concept of Emunah in Judaism. While it is generally translated as faith or trust in God, the concept of Emunah can more accurately be described as "an innate conviction, a perception of truth that transcends (...) reason ". Emunah can be enhanced through wisdom , knowledge , understanding , and learning of sacred Jewish writings. But Emunah is not simply based on reason , nor can it be understood as the opposite of, or standing in contrast to, reason. There are a number of basic principles that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities. These are put forth as fundamental underpinnings inherent in the "acceptance and practice of Judaism".

The formulation of principles of faith, universally recognized across all branches of Judaism remains undefined. There is no central authority in Judaism in existence today although the Sanhedrin , the supreme Jewish religious court, could fulfill this role for some if it were re-established. Instead, Jewish principles of faith remain debated by the rabbis based on their understanding of the sacred writings, laws, and traditions, which collectively shape its theological and ethical framework. The most accepted version in extent is the opinion of Maimonides . The most important and influential version is the set of 13 principles composed by Maimonides . He stressed the importance of believing that there is one single, omniscient , transcendent , non-corporeal, non-compound God who created the universe and continues to interact with his creation and judge souls' reward or punishment. Other principles include the future emergence of the Messiah , the resurrection of the dead, and the principle that God revealed his laws and 613 mitzvot to the Jewish people in the form of the Written and Oral Torahs .