What are the 13 principles of Maimonides?
While discussing the claim that all Israel has a share in the world to come, Maimonides lists 13 principles that he considers binding on every Jew: the existence of God, the absolute unity of God, the incorporeality of God, the eternity of God, that God alone is to be worshipped, that God communicates to prophets, that …
What does the word Maimonides mean?
Wiktionary. Maimonidesnoun. A medieval Jewish philosopher.
What is meant by pikuach nefesh?
Pikuach nefesh is the concept that saving a human life is more important than any mitzvot . It is belief in the sanctity of life . Life is holy and belongs to God, which means that only he can give it and only he can take it. Pikuach nefesh is an obligation for all Jews.
What does Shemah Yisrael signify?
In Hebrew this means “witness”. The idea thus conveyed is that through the recitation or proclamation of the Shema one is a living witness testifying to the truth of its message.
What are the 3 key moral principles in Judaism?
Key moral principles including justice, healing the world, charity and kindness to others. The importance of the sanctity of human life, including the concept of ‘saving a life’ (Pikuach Nefesh).
What did Maimonides believe about God?
Maimonides argued that our comprehension of God is limited to negations, for example negations of finitude, ignorance, plurality, corporeal existence, and so forth. Our use of terms such as ‘knowledge,’ ‘justice,’ ‘benevolence,’ and ‘will’ in speaking of God is equivocal.
What does tikkun olam mean in Hebrew?
repair the world
These Hebrew words are typically translated as “repair the world,” or “mend the world,” — or as those who knew one of the victims that day put it when describing his work with refugees, “heal the world.” The phrase tikkun olam, as it has been used especially by American Jews who identify as socially and politically …
What does Tzedakah mean in Hebrew?
righteousness
“Tzedakah” (pronounced suh-dack-uh) is the Hebrew word for “righteousness” or “justice.” The word relates to “tzaddik,” the name for a righteous Chasidic spiritual leader. Both words come from the Hebrew root word “tzedek,” meaning justice.
What does Shema mean in Hebrew?
Hear
Shema, (Hebrew: “Hear”), the Jewish confession of faith made up of three scriptural texts (Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21; Numbers 15:37–41), which, together with appropriate prayers, forms an integral part of the evening and morning services.
Do Jews believe in Dominion?
Jews believe that they have a responsibility to look after the world as they are stewards for God. They also believe that God gave them the responsibility to have control over nature, this is known as dominion.
What does the Torah say about hatred of others?
The Torah explicitly prohibits hatred of one’s fellow in the verse “Thou shall not hate thy brother in thine heart” (Lev. 19:17). Hatred is understood by the rabbis as essentially a matter of mental disposition, as implied in the phrase “in thine heart.”
Why don’t more Jews read the Torah?
Many of its deeper levels of interpretation are not readily accessible; and they may not lend themselves to obvious, practical application in daily life. As such, these more esoteric aspects of Torah are not of interest to significant segments of the Jewish population, including some rabbis and scholars.
What are the odds that the events predicted in the Torah?
No Las Vegas bookie would give a million-to-one odds that the events predicted in the Torah would actually come true or that the Jewish people would outlast the greatest empires, reestablish their state and prosper. The improbable events of the past are a clear indication of God’s hand in Jewish history and destiny.
What is your favorite Yiddish quote?
20 Favorite Jewish Quotes. 1. “In Jewish history there are no coincidences.”. – Elie Wiesel. If you would have asked me my favorite Yiddish word, I would have said bashert. It 2. “A righteous man falls down seven times and gets up.” – King Solomon, Proverbs, 24:16. 3. “If you don’t know what