Dogma in Medieval Jewish Thought

Professor Kellner is chair of the Department of Philosophy and Jewish Thought, Shalem College, Jerusalem and Wolfson Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought, University of Haifa.

• Preface Abbreviations Introduction 1 Maimonides The Text of Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles • What is a ‘Foundation of the Torah’? • Maimonides’ Statement of the Principles in the Mishneh Torah • Divisions into which the Principles Fall • Why Maimonides Posited his Principles • The Thirteen Principles and the Guide of the Perplexed • Missing Principles • Maimonides’ Principles and Other Torah Beliefs • The Special Status of the Twelfth Principle (Messiah) • Summary 2 From Maimonides to Duran Introduction • Abba Mari • Falaquera • David ben Samuel Lolhavi d’Estella • David ben Yom Tov ibn Bilia • Shemariah ben Elijah ben Ya’akov ha-Ikriti of Negropont • Transition to the Fifteenth Century 3 Duran The Texts • Duran’s Principles • Was Duran Decisively Influenced by Averroës? • Duran’s Influence 4 Hasdai Crescas Introduction • The Texts • Crescas’s System of Principles • Crescas’s Use of the Concept ‘Principle of Faith’ • Does the Torah Command Belief? • Crescas on Inadvertent Heresy • Crescas, Rabbenu Nissim, and Duran 5 Joseph Albo Albo’s System of Principles • Ikkarim, Shorashim, and Anafim • Judaism as a Science • Heresy • Duran, Crescas, and Albo 6 Shalom, Arama, and Yavez Abraham Shalom • Isaac Arama • Joseph Yavez 7 Abraham Bibago Bibago’s System of Principles • Bibago’s Analysis of Maimonides’ Principles • Bibago, Maimonides, and Abravanel 8 Isaac Abravanel Abravanel’s Analysis of Maimonides • Does Abravanel Truly Reject the Claim that Judaism has Principles of Faith? 9 Four Minor Figures Muehlhausen • Delmedigo • David ben Judah Messer Leon • Mabit 10 Summary and Conclusions Statements of the Creed • Dogma, Heresy, and Schisms • Creation and Messiah Appendix: Texts and Translations of Maimonides’ Commentary on Perek Helek Notes Bibliography General Index Index of Biblical Citations

'An important contribution to the history of dogma in Judaism and to the history of fifteenth-century Jewish thought in particular.' Chava Tirosh-Rothschild, Critical Review 'A work of serious scholarship. It will no doubt become the standard work on the subject for many years to come.'Jewish Book News & Reviews'A detailed analysis of Maimonides's position and its aftermath ... a scholarly analysis ... Kellner steers us deftly through the complex argument. His is the most thorough treatment so far of this still relevant chapter in the history of Jewish thought.'Jonathan Sacks, L'Eylah'The first study of its kind.'P. T. Stella, Salesianum