Note: The following principles have been adapted from the thirteen principles of faith of Rabbinical
Judaism. It is the custom of many Congregations to recite the Thirteen Articles of Faith given by Moses
Maimonides. However, as Messianic Believers we need to state clearly that "we have an understand of these
his principles, but in a new way." Maimonides was a great teacher just like Moses was a great teacher, but Yeshua was the greatest of all teachers, the one prophet greater then Moses himself. It was given to Yeshua to codify the Scriptures for us, we need
not look to Rabbinical Judaism for that. Rabbinical Judaism can teach us much, yes, I will not deny that. However, it can also lead you
astray from the teaching of Messiah Yeshua as well. We should all be like the noble Bereans, (Acts 17:11) who in
the Synagogue heard the speakers, received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily,
to see whether what they heard was so. These brothers and sisters were called "noble" for a good reason,
and that reason was - with readiness of mind they knew the Word of G-d is chief over all. Believers in Messiah
Yeshua must never forget that fact! It is the hope of Mayim Hayim Ministries,
that if your Messianic Fellowship does use the Thirteen Articles of Faith, you might want to use these instead of those of Moses Maimonides.
The number thirteen is the last winding in the Tzitzit, it stands for G-d's Oneness and Love. When
all the other windings have been tied on the Tzitzit, what you have is a picture of G-d as "One" (Echad),
and G-d as "Love" and that is the best Article of Faith we can claim. To know your G-d as "One"
and that He is "Love" brings one to want to Worship Him with all that is in you. By the way, there are
three ways of tying the Tzitzit, but the Ashkenazi way is the oldest form we are told, and would be the best one
to use. If you click on the word Tzitzit above, it will show you all three ways. 138:1 A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: will I sing praise unto You
before the angels (G-d's- elohim); for you have heard all the words of my mouth.
Moses Maimonides, in his commentary on the Mishnah, compiles what he
refers to as the Shloshah-Asar Ikkarim, the Thirteen Articles of Faith - compiled from Judaism's 613 Commandments of Torah. However, Believers in Messiah Yeshua view them just
a little differently. The words Ani Ma-amin mean, I believe, and Ma-amin was one of the names for the early Believers in Messiah
Yeshua. So with great love for the Ma-amin, I have used it instead of the English, I believe.
The Thirteen Articles of Messianic Jewish Faith are as follows:
1. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in the existence of the Creator, be He Blessed, who
is perfect in every manner of existence and is the "Fundamental Source" of all that exists.
2. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in G-d's absolute and unparalleled Unity, His "Echadness."
3. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in G-d's Holy Essence, who is touch with the feelings of our infirmities.
4. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in G-d's Eternity.
5. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in the necessary to worship Him exclusively.
6. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith that G-d communicates with mankind through prophecy, and through His Son, Yeshua
the Messiah, and buy His Holy Spirit.
7. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses, “The L-RD thy G-d will raise up unto thee a Prophet
from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him you shall lend an ear.” That is our teacher Yeshua
the Messiah, and it is He to whom I shall lend my ear.
8. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in the Divine origin of the Living Word of G-d, the Messiah, Yeshua.
9. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in the endurance of the Torah of G-d, it will always stand as G-d's Holy Word.
It will never pass away.
10. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in Divine Omniscience and the Divine Guidance of the Almighty One, Blessed
be He.
11. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in Divine reward and Divine retribution.
12. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in the arrival of the Yeshua the Messiah a second time, and His setting up
the Messianic age.
13. Ani Ma-amin with a perfect faith in the Resurrection of the living and the dead.
FYI Note:
Let me end with a Psalm of Praise from the Name of G-d. Verses one, and two are from the Septuagint, be sure to
meditate on them. The Septuagint predates what we use today, and was used by the followers of Yeshua Messiah. Our
New Covenant text quotes the Septuagint as being the Hebrew Scriptures used by many of the Believers.
2 I will worship toward thy Holy Temple, and praise
Your Name on account of your Mercy and your Truth; for you have magnified your Holy
Name above everything.
3 In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O L-RD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 Yes, they shall sing in the ways of the L-RD: for great is the Glory of the L-RD.
6 Though the L-RD be high, yet has he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knows afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath
of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me.
8 The L-RD will perfect that which concerneth me: your Mercy, O L-RD, stands forever: forsake not the works of
your own hands. - AGI
