The 13 Principles of Faith

The Rambam, in his commentary on the Mishnayos (end of Maseches Brachos), writes: “More precious to me than all the other topics, is to teach about ikrei daas v’emunah, the fundamentals of Judaism and
emunah!” The Rambam, our great teacher, whose teachings encompass
the entire Torah, is telling us that the subject most important for him to disseminate is ikrei daas v’emunah. In fact, the Rambam is the one who organized and delineated the famous thirteen principles of emunah in Perek Chelek in Maseches Sanhedrin. Later on, they were made popular As heard from Rav Yisrael Ginsburg, shlita, a grandson of the Mashgiach and a
maggid shiur in the Yeshivah of Staten Island.

THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITH
in the famous Ani Ma’amins and in the Yigdal tefilah, which are in the siddur and based on the Rambam’s thirteen ikrei emunah.
The thirteen Ani Ma’amins can be divided into three groups. The first
group is comprised of principles relating to Hashem’s existence.

These include:

1) Believing that Hashem exists;

2) Believing in His Oneness, i.e., that He is not comprised of parts;

3) He is not physical or tangible;

4) He always existed and is eternal;

5) We serve Him alone.

The second group is comprised of principles relating to His
communication with us and our relationship and obligations towards
Him.

These include:

6) Nevuah, prophecy;

7) Moshe Rabbeinu’s
prophecy;

8) Torah min haShamayim, Torah is Divine;

9) The Torah is
unchanging.

Finally, the third group is is comprised of principles relating to
purpose, destiny, and eternity.

These include:

10) Hashem observes
and directs the world;

11) Reward and punishment;

12) Anticipating the
arrival of Moshiach;

13) Techiyas Hameisim, Revival of the Dead — the real and ultimate life.