Reviewed by Zev Leff

SumFnl07 6/5/07 1:55 PM Page 76 Books The Limits of Orthodox Theology: Even Shisiya on the Maimonides’ Thirteen Thirteen Principles of the Rambam Principles Reappraised By Rabbi Yochanan Meir Bechhofer By Marc B. Shapiro Yefe Nof-Y. Pozen The Littman Library Jerusalem, 5765 of Jewish Civilization 124 pages Oxford, 2004 221 pages Reviewed by Zev Leff lthough The Limits of Orthodox Theology: Maimonides’ Thirteen A Principles Reappraised by Marc B. Shapiro and Even Shisiya on the Thirteen Principles of the Rambam (Hebrew) by Rabbi Yochanan Meir Bechhofer are both dedicated to dis- cussing Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith, as formulated in his commentary to the Mishnah, they do so from very different perspectives. Rabbi Bechhofer presents scholar- Rabbi Bechhofer cites Rabbi and Revelation rather than on philo- ly/halachic and hashkafic explanations Weinberg’s opinion that the Thirteen sophical investigation. Rabbi Bechhofer for each principle, which are largely Principles do not define the Jewish reli- therefore limits his discussion of these based on the insights of his mentor, gion. That purpose would be served by Principles to sources that are within Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, the three basic principles, as Rabbi Yosef Torah tradition. late rosh yeshivah of Ner Israel Albo writes in Sefer Ha’ikarim: belief Dr. Shapiro also examines each of Rabbinical College in Baltimore. in God, belief in the Divine source of the Thirteen Principles in a comprehen- The author is mainly concerned the Torah and the concept of reward sive and scholarly manner. He informs with demonstrating the role the and punishment. us that his work was written in Thirteen Principles play in Jewish theol- The Thirteen Principles that response to an article by Rabbi ogy. Since the entire Torah was dictated Rambam set forth point to why the Yehudah Parnes that appeared in by God, one would think that every- Torah is the absolute truth. Yeshiva University’s Torah U-Madda thing in the Torah is of equal signifi- Additionally, they define the Jewish peo- Journal. In the article, Rabbi Parnes cance. Nevertheless, Rambam held that ple and what creates the faith communi- argues that “heresy is defined by the there is room for defining principles of ty. In other words, the Principles define Thirteen Principles of Maimonides.” faith. (The Chatam Sofer in his respon- who is within the faith community of Dr. Shapiro acknowledges that sa [Yoreh Deah 356] cites a source even Klal Yisrael, and who, by virtue of not the underlying assumption that the earlier than Rambam who refers to accepting some of these truths, is out- Thirteen Principles are the bedrock of Thirteen Principles of Faith—albeit the side of this community. Orthodoxy has never been openly chal- source does not identify exactly what Rabbi Bechhofer proceeds to lenged in modern times by those who iden- the principles are.) examine each of the Thirteen Principles. tify with Orthodoxy (pp. 1-2). His stated purpose in writing this expo- Nevertheless, Dr. Shapiro wrote Rabbi Leff is the rav of Moshav Matityahu sition is “to explain in a comprehensive an article (which was published in that and the rosh yeshivah of Yeshiva Gedolah manner how these Principles are one same journal and which subsequently Matityahu. He teaches in many yeshivot and seminaries and adult education centers in system and each Principle is a necessary served as the basis for this expanded Eretz Yisrael, and lectures around the world. component to accepting the Torah as work) in response to Rabbi Parnes with He is the author of Outlooks and Insights: truth” (p. 19; my translation). the purpose of showing that On the Weekly Torah Portion (Brooklyn, He also explains that each of traditional Jewish theology has 1995). these principles is based on tradition allowed for much more latitude than 76 JEWISH ACTION Summer 5767/2007 SumFnl07 6/5/07 1:55 PM Page 77 found in the Thirteen Principles. As a nah, Chumash, Tanach, tefillah as well example, the conviction that God is a result, many outstanding sages did not as other so-called “theological litera- corporeal being like any other corporal regard the Thirteen Principles as the last ture,” despite the fact that these sub- being is a belief that is outside the realm word in Jewish theology. Indeed, there is a jects are not part of the official yeshivah of Judaism, despite the fact that the history of opposition to Maimonides’ curriculum. These students approach Sages do not agree whether to deem one Principles among the ranks of traditional, such subjects from the classical Jewish a heretic for harboring this belief. or as it is called in modern times, sources, and they are capable of doing Hence, the principle is true, although its Orthodox Judaism (p. 2). so because they have an extensive and exact parameters are subject to the Similarly, in concluding his book, deep understanding of both the Oral debate of Torah scholars. Dr. Shapiro writes: and the Written Law. Is Dr. Shapiro This situation is comparable to I wrote this book to examine the unaware of the musar and hashkafah that which occurred with the publica- claim that Maimonides’ Principles are the va’adim that take place in every yeshiv- tion of the Shulchan Aruch. Despite the last word in Jewish theology. Simply by ah? Is he unacquainted with the abun- fact that there was debate among bona- looking at traditional Jewish sources, I dance of sefarim published every year fide Torah scholars as to the benefit believe it has been clearly demonstrated on a variety of topics related to theolo- and propriety of creating a code of that many of his Principles were not gy, written by famous roshei yeshivah as Jewish law, and despite the fact that regarded as authoritative, either before his well as by serious young Talmudic there are instances where the rulings of time or afterwards. The fact that scholars, both in Israel and in the the Shulchan Aruch have not been Maimonides placed the stamp of apostasy accepted, the Shulchan Aruch overall on anyone who disagreed with his has been accepted by Klal Yisrael—its Principles did not frighten away numerous Since every word of Torah is sages and the rank and file of observant great sages from their search for truth. The Divine, one would think that Jews—and has therefore become the lesson for moderns is clear (p. 158). everything in the Torah is of definitive code of Jewish observance. After reading Dr. Shapiro’s work, Similarly, over the generations, the I am not convinced that he “clearly equal significance. Thirteen Principles have been accepted demonstrated” anything more than the Nevertheless, Rambam held as the definitive code of Jewish belief, fact that in regard to the Thirteen that there is room for defining albeit not every detail of Rambam’s Principles, as in all areas of Torah, dif- presentation of them has been accept- ferences of opinion have always existed. principles of faith. ed. Hence, Yigdal and the Thirteen This is the manner in which the Torah Principles are recited by most Jews sages who are entrusted with the trans- Diaspora? Our scholars are very aware every day in Shacharit. mission of the Oral Law develop and of Jewish theology; nevertheless, they Dr. Shapiro admits that he is not a decide that law. Nevertheless, this does arrived at a consensus that Rambam’s theologian, but rather an intellectual not preclude a consensus emerging Principles should be accepted. historian (p. 158). Indeed, perhaps this subsequent to the conflicts of opinion. Every serious yeshivah student explains why he misunderstands so That is to say, even though there were knows that there were disagreements as many Torah sources. While one of the differences of opinion concerning the to whether the Thirteen Principles were, Thirteen Principles is that the entire Thirteen Principles in the Middle in fact, beneficial to posit, and if so, Torah that was handed to Moshe Ages, today the Principles are univer- which ones were to be considered Rabbeinu is God-given, Dr. Shapiro sally accepted. Principles. Is there a serious yeshivah tries to show how certain parts of the Dr. Shapiro argues that student who is ignorant of Rabbi Yosef Torah are “post-Mosaic.” He states: since the sources of Jewish theology Albo’s Sefer Ha’ikarim or Rabbi Moshe In his commentary on Numbers are not part of the curriculum in yeshivot, de Trani’s Beit Elokim? Yes, there were 22:1, Rashbam focuses on the phrase the students know nothing about them. disagreements as to what kind of disbe- ‘beyond the Jordan,’ … the difficulty is Nor is the typical posek, who has mastered lief rendered one a heretic (e.g., open that in Moses’ day the Israelites had not yet the Talmud, codes and responsa, rebellion, erroneous intellectual conclu- entered the Promised Land and the term acquainted with the theological literature, sions or ignorance). Yet while there were ‘beyond the Jordan’ would not have been and he often does not even recognize the disagreements with regard to the various used for the side of the Jordan on which issues (p. 157). details and the parameters of the they were encamped…. It should be noted that Rabbi Principles, the Thirteen Principles have Dr. Shapiro concludes Weinberg, who delivered extensive talks been accepted in their general form as In other words, this phrase was only on the Thirteen Principles at Ner Israel the expression of Torah Judaism, and, as added after Moses’ death, which occurred and elsewhere, and Rabbi Bechhofer are stated above, one who denies any of before the Israelites crossed the Jordan. both the products of yeshivot.

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