Sefer HaIkkarim - BOOK OF PRINCIPLES

Sefer HaIkkarim -BOOK OF PRINCIPLES Jewish philosophyKabbalist Rabbi JOSEPH ALBOThus the number of primary and secondary principles of divine law in general, according to this, are eleven: existence of God, and the four secondary principles derived from it, viz., unity, incorporeality, independence of time, freedom from defects. Then divine revelation and the three secondary principles depending upon it, viz., God s knowledge, prophecy, and the authenticity of the prophet s mission. Finally, reward and punishment, and the secondary principle based upon it, viz., providence. If we combine divine knowledge and providence into one, as Maimonides does, the number will be ten... On the other hand we count God s knowledge and providence as two separate dogmas, because they are different, as Maimonides explains in the Guide, and as all later authorities agree, though Maimonides himself combines them into one. stated that any religion (dat elohit), including Judaism, must have the following three fundamental principles, which he calls ikkarim (fundamentals) or ikarim kollelim (general fundamentals): belief in the existence of God belief in the revelation of God, belief in divine justice, as related to the idea of immortality. From these three principles, Albo posited that a religion must have eight derivative principles (shorashim [roots] or ikkarim peratiim [specific fundamentals]) which follow logically from the three fundamentals: From the existence of God: God's unity God's incorporeality God's timelessness God's perfection: in God, there can be neither weakness nor other defect. From the revelation of God: God's prophecy God's prophet authentication From the reward and punishment of God: God's omniscience Reward and punishment, whether in this world or the World to ComeAccording to the Rabbi, an individual who rejects one of either the three fundamental or the eight derivative principles is called a "e;heretic"e; in Jewish sources. Similarly, a religion that rejects one of these eleven principles is a false religion. Rabbi Albo argues that the theologies of both Christianity and Islam misunderstand one of the "e;fundamentals"e; and thus reject one of the "e;derivative principles"e;, making them false religions. Whereas, according to him, Judaism contains a correct understanding of these principles.