THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITH A collection of essays on the Rambam’s thirteen emunah imperatives that will empower you to a deeper awareness of the EXISTENCE, PURPOSE and DESTINY of the universe Copyright 2020 By Nachlas Moshe Publishing All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the Publisher [email protected] For any comments or questions regarding the sefer, Please call or write to: Kalman Goldberger Meromei Sadeh 9/19 Kiryat Sefer Modi’in Illit 011-972-8-652-8415 [email protected] U.S.A. contact 718-948-2548 לע"נ ר' ברוך גד בן יוסף הלוי ז"ל נפטר יז אדר ב' תשע"ט This sefer is lovingly dedicated in memory of Mr. Bert Schonbach z”l, a man of sterling character, wisdom, and insight. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, he epitomized kindness, integrity, and sense of responsibility. While he himself was a man of few needs, he always made sure that his family had the best that life could offer. A loyal friend, Bert was always there for anyone who needed him, and he earned the admiration and respect of his contemporaries. The massive crowds at his levaya and subsequent shiva were a testament to this. In his quiet and unassuming way, Bert touched and changed the lives of many. No one will ever forget how he enlivened each simcha and event with his gift of song and sense of humor. A learned and dedicated Jew, he always had a Torah insight to share and took the utmost pride in the fact that his children embodied the ideals that he and Yaffa had instilled in them. This was his greatest joy. May this sefer play a role in eternalizing his legacy. יהי זכרו ברוך ת.נ.צ.ב.ה Dedicated by Dr. David Schreiber and Rabbi Moshe Gelbein 9 Shvat 5780 Dear R’ Kalman shlita, son of my beloved talmid, Harav Moshe Goldberger shlita I feel such simcha and nachas when I see that the “gedi’em na’asu tayashim, kid goats have become bucks,” upon receiving the manuscript of your sefer which you are planning to publish, on the thirteen principles of faith. As is well known, everything stands on emunah, faith. Chazal at the end of masechta Maakos have stated, “Chavakuk came and established it [the entire Torah] on one [principle], ‘The righteous one lives due to his emunah.’” This topic requires strengthening, especially in our times when the deviations have increased and true knowledge has diminished. From the sample I have seen, your sefer is overflowing with divrei chochma and da’as, words of knowledge and wisdom, based on the words of chazal, our Torah authorities, and it is written in a clear, easy to read, inspiring and exciting manner. This sefer will certainly be of great benefit to increase emunah and fear of Heaven. Therefore I commend you and bentch you that you merit great success with this sefer and in all your future endeavors, and that you merit to study, teach, fulfill, and immerse yourself in the depths of Torah study with peace of mind, tranquility and good health. May you have abundant parnassah and nachas from your family together with your esteemed wife until the speedy arrival of Melech Hamoshiach. Written and signed in honor of the Torah and its students and those who strengthen our pure faith Shalom Reuven Feinstein בס"ד RABBI MOSHE GOLDBERGER STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK Lkovod Rav Kalman Shlita Thanks for your gevaldika Sefer we are enjoying it very much. It gives the opportunity to study a few pages a day to think and practice Emuna one of the 6 Mitzvos that are constant 24/7. Living with thoughts of Hashem elevates a person to connect and cling to Hashem which makes life sweet and Gishmak . Hashem is our very best Friend and the more we think about Him, He rewards us with innite benets. May you merit to be a Mazakeh es horabim in many meaningful ways. From your loving Parents. 7 Contents Foreword A Tzaddik Lives With His Faith ...................................................................................... 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................17 FOREWORD — INTRODUCTION TO EMUNAH, FAITH IN HASHEM (PART ONE) ...................................................................................................................21 FOREWORD — INTRODUCTION TO EMUNAH (PART TWO) — EMUNAH AND TORAH ...................................................................... 30 FOREWORD — INTRODUCTION TO EMUNAH (PART THREE) — EMUNAH AND LOVE FOR TORAH .................................................. 35 A TRANSLATION OF THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITH INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 38 THE FIRST PRINCIPLE THE EXISTENCE OF HASHEM ....................................................................................... 45 THE FIRST PRINCIPLE THE EXISTENCE OF HASHEM — THE PRACTICAL FULFILLMENT OF THE MITZVAH OF EMUNAH ....................................................................................................................... 50 THE SECOND PRINCIPLE HASHEM ECHAD (HASHEM IS ONE) — GOY ECHAD BA’ARETZ (THE JEWISH NATION IS ONE) – PART ONE ..................................................................................................... 57 THE SECOND PRINCIPLE HASHEM ECHAD — GOY ECHAD BA’ARETZ (PART TWO) .......................................... 62 THE THIRD PRINCIPLE INVISIBLE PROFUNDITY ............................................................................................... 67 8 THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITH THE THIRD PRINCIPLE NO BODY— PROPER RESPECT .....................................................................................71 THE FOURTH PRINCIPLE KADMUS HASHEM AND ZMAN (HASHEM’S PRECEDENCE TO THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE CONCEPT OF TIME) ........................................................................ 76 THE FOURTH PRINCIPLE CHIDDUSH HA’OLAM (PURPOSEFUL CREATION) AND YESH MI’AYIN (EX NIHILO) .81 THE FIFTH PRINCIPLE YEDIDUS, FRIENDSHIP — KEEPING AWAY FROM ZARUS, UNFRIENDLINESS AND AVODAH ZARAH ........................................................................................................... 85 THE SIXTH PRINCIPLE NEVUAH (PART ONE) ................................................................................................... 93 THE SIXTH PRINCIPLE NEVUAH — THE BIRTHRIGHT OF EVERY JEW ............................................................96 THE SIXTH PRINCIPLE NEVUAH, PROPHESY (PART TWO) .............................................................................100 THE SEVENTH PRINCIPLE NEVUAS MOSHE RABBEINU, MOSHE RABBEINU’S PROPHECY ...............................103 THE SEVENTH PRINCIPLE NEVUAS MOSHE RABBEINU AND KORACH’S REBELLION ........................................107 THE EIGHTH PRINCIPLE THE FIRE OF SINAI ....................................................................................................... 111 THE EIGHTH PRINCIPLE MA’AMAD HAR SINAI .................................................................................................120 THE EIGHTH PRINCIPLE EMUNAS CHACHAMIM (FAITH IN TORAH SCHOLARS) - PART ONE ........................128 THE EIGHTH PRINCIPLE FAITH AND RESPECT FOR TORAH SCHOLARS ........................................................... 132 9 THE EIGHTH PRINCIPLE EMUNAS CHACHAMIM (FAITH IN TORAH SCHOLARS) - PART TWO ........................142 THE NINTH PRINCIPLE THE ETERNAL TORAH (PART ONE) ............................................................................147 THE NINTH PRINCIPLE THE ETERNAL TORAH (PART TWO)............................................................................ 152 THE TENTH PRINCIPLE HASHGACHAH PRATIS, DIVINE PROVIDENCE (PART ONE) .......................................156 THE TENTH PRINCIPLE HASHGACHAS HASHEM, DIVINE PROVIDENCE (PART TWO) ................................... 161 THE ELEVENTH PRINCIPLE SCHAR, REWARD (PART ONE) ................................................................................... 166 THE ELEVENTH PRINCIPLE SCHAR, REWARD (PART TWO) .................................................................................. 169 THE ELEVENTH PRINCIPLE THE BENEFITS OF CHALLENGE ...................................................................................174 THE ELEVENTH PRINCIPLE CONSEQUENCES .........................................................................................................179 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE AWAITING MOSHIACH’S ARRIVAL .............................................................................184 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE BELIEVING, AWAITING ,AND DESIRING THE UTOPIA OF MOSHIACH ...................... 191 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE YEARNING FOR THE REDEMPTION ............................................................................197 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE YEARNING FOR KVOD SHAMAYIM, HEAVENLY GLORY ...........................................200 10 THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITH THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE KVOD SHAMAYIM, HEAVENLY GLORY AND TZAAR HASHECHINA, PAIN OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE ................................................................................................................... 205 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE AN EVERLASTING BOND OF LOVE .............................................................................. 212 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE YEARNING FOR ROYALTY (PART ONE) ......................................................................219 THE TWELFTH PRINCIPLE YEARNING FOR ROYALTY (PART TWO) .....................................................................223 THE THIRTEENTH PRINCIPLE TECHIYAS HAMEISIM,