Note.-For the following Translation of the Six Hundred and Thirteen Precepts, we are indebted to "The Fundamental Principles of Modern Judaism Investigated, by the Rev. Dr. Margoliouth. APPENDIX. THE THIRTEEN FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF JEWISH FAITH This Creed was framed by Maimonides, the celebrated Rabbi of the twelfth century. 1. I believe, with a perfect faith, that God (blessed be His name) is the Creator and Governor of all created beings; and that He alone has made, does make, and ever wil make, every production. 2. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be His name) is one God; and that there is no unity whatever like unto Him; and that He alone is our God, who was, is, and will be eternally. 3. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be His name) is nct corporeal, nor is He subject to any of those changes that are incident to matter; and that He has no similitude whatever. 4. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be His name) is both the first and the last of all things. 5. I believe, with a perfect faith, that to the Creator (blessed be His name), yea, to Him only, it is proper to address our prayers; and that it is not proper to pray to any other being. 6. I believe, with a perfect faith, that all the words of the prophets are true. 7. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the prophecy of Moses, our instructor (may his soul rest in peace), was true; and that he excelled all the sages that preceded him, or they who may succeed him. 8. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Law which we now have in our possession is the same Law which was given to Moses, our instructor. 9. I believe, with a perfect faith, that this Law will never be changed; that the Creator (blessed be His name) will never give us any other law. 10. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be His rame) knoweth all the actions and thoughts of mankind- -as it is said, "He fashioneth their hearts, and is fully acquainted with all their works." 11. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be His name) rewards those who observe His commandments, and punishes those who transgress them. 12. I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Messiah will come; and, although His coming be delayed, I will still await His speedy appearance. 13. I believe, with a perfect faith, that there will be a resurrection of the dead at the time when it shall please the Creator; blessed be His name for ever and ever. THE SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN PRECEPTS. These are the Commandments which the Lord gave unto Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai; and which all Jewish children between six and seven have to commit to memory, as a thorough knowledge of this is considered to be a key to the Oral Law. 1. To propagate the human race by marrying at a proper age; for it is written, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." Gen. i. 28. 2. To circumcise male children on the eighth day after their birth; for it is written, "This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; every man-child among you shall be circumcised." Gen. xvii. 10. 3. To abstain from the shrunken sinew; for it is written, "Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day." Gen. xxxii. 32. 4. To consecrate the new moon, and to calculate the (year's) time in the house of judgment nearest to the land of Israel, and to fix the holy day accordingly; for it is written, "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you" Exod. xii. 2. 5. To slaughter in the temple on Easter-eve, and even on the Sabbath, the Paschal lamb; to be either a male lamb, without blemish, one year old, or a kid; for it is written, "And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." Exod. xii. 6. 6. To eat the Paschal lamb on the first night of the Passover; at least each person must eat a piece thereof of the size of an olive, besides the general meal; for it is written, "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." Exod. xii. 8. 7. Not to eat the Paschal lamb raw, or boiled; for it is written, "Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water," or with any other beverage, but every part of it inust be roasted on the fire. Exod. xii. 9. "And ye shall 8. Not to leave a part of the Paschal lamb; for it is written, let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire." Exod. xii. 10. 9. To remove out of our possession all leavened substances before the noon of the day preceding the Passover; for it is written, "Even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses." Exod. xii. 15. 10. To eat Passover cake, of the size of an olive at least, on the first night of the Passover; for it is written, "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread." Exod. xii. 18. 11. No leavened substance should be found in our possession during the whole of the Passover; for it is written, "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses." Exod. xii. 19. 12. Not to partake of things that are mixed with leavened substances; for it is written, "Ye shall eat nothing leavened." Exod. xii. 20. 13. Not to give of the Paschal lamb to an apostate Israelite; for it is written, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof." Exod. xii. 43. 14. Not to give of the Paschal lamb to a foreigner, or to hired servants; for it is written, "A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof." Exod. xii. 45. 15. Not to carry a part of the Paschal lamb out of the community; for it is written, "Thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house." Exod. xii. 46. 16. Not to break any bone of the Paschal lamb; for it is written, "Neither shall break a bone thereof." ye Exod. xii. 46. 17. No uncircumcised person is to eat of the Paschal lamb; for it is written, "For no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof." Exod. xii. 48. 18. To dedicate the first-born male children as holy to the Lord; for it is written, "Sanctify unto Me all the first-born," etc. Exod. xiii. 2. 19. Not to eat leavened bread on the Passover; for it is written, "There shall no leavened bread be eaten." Exod. xiii. 3. 20. No leavened substance shall be seen in our habitations; for it is written, "Neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters." Exod. xiii. 7. 21. To speak of the deliverance from Egypt, to the children, and even to himself, on the first night of the Passover; for it is written, "And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt." Exod. xiii. 8. |