When asked the question “what do Jews believe?” many of us are unable to offer an adequate answer. Some may be able to tell you the traditions associated with some or all of the holidays. Others may offer the guidelines to keeping kosher or observing the Sabbath. But, how many can actually answer to the foundations of the Jewish faith?

What are the guiding principles of the Jewish religion? Judaism is an action-based faith and what we do is far more important than what we might believe.

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, knows as Maimonides or the Rambam, was born in Spain and one of the greatest Torah scholars in Jewish history. The Rambam’s commentary on the Mishna (written Jewish law) led to his development of the Thirteen Principles of Faith.

1. G-d exists. According to the Rambam, the underlying ideology of Judaism is that there is a G-d and that G-d is the Creator of all things.

2. There is one G-d.

3. G-d is intangible. G-d is spiritual and the physical laws that bind humankind do not apply to G-d.

4. G-d is eternal.

5. Prayers are for G-d. We pray to G-d and nothing else.

6. The wisdom from our prophets is truth.

7. Moses, being the greatest of all prophets, shared true prophesies with the Jewish people.

8. The Torah – written and oral – were given directly to Moses.

9. This is the only Torah we will ever be given.

10. G-d knows our thoughts and our actions.

11. G-d rewards those who follow his commandments and punishes those who violate His laws.

12. The Messiah will come.

13. The dead will return to the living when G-d decides it is so.

These founding principles may not answer many of your questions in terms of what Jews believe. They may even confuse you, make you feel “less of a Jew”, or enrage you. When the Rambam first created his thirteen principles, there was much disagreement and opposing thoughts. But, years later, his ideas became universally believed. Today, they are known as the foundation of Jewish thinking. Judaism is based upon our people’s relationship with G-d, our connection to each other and our responsibility to the world.

A future article will continue to examine Jewish views of life after death, the coming of the Messiah, Heaven & Hell as well as other issues that continue to boggle our minds in the physical world.