Page:Rambam-Helek-Abelson (English).pdf/2

 Jehuda Hadassi, in the middle of the twelfth century, following previous views among his sect, laid down twelve fundamental articles of the Jewish faith. The first Rabbanite to oppose the doctrines of these predecessors of Jehuda Hadassi, and to show in general the untenable and selfcontradictory doctrines of Karaism,was the famous R. Sa'adia Gaon in the tenth century. Sa'adia at the same time subjected Rabbinical Judaism to philosophical tests, and thereby gave his successors the twofold impetus to philosophical studies and the formulation of dogma in Jewish theology. The most eminent successors of Sa'adia were Jehuda Halevi (in his Cusari), and Abraham ben David (Rabad) (in his Equna Ramza). All three may be said to have been the most distinguished predecessors of Maimonides in this field.

Maimonides went further than his predecessors. The latter did not particularize. Their object consisted in justifying and expounding Judaism in general on philosophical and historical grounds. Maimonides set himself a more practical object. He wanted every Israelite to know exactly what were the things he was expected to believe, so as to be entitled to call himself a Jew, and expect others to do so. With this matter-of-fact motive in his mind he tabulated his views on the Jewish faith, wrote them down in concise language free from ambiguity, and called them the thirteen fundamental Articles. Henceforward Maimonides became the fountain-head of all the dogmatic literature produced by the Jews down to the end of the fifteenth century. Everything in this particular sphere of Jewish theology revolved round his name. "A century had hardly elapsed," says Professor Schechter, "before the Thirteen Articles had become a theme for the poets of the synagogue. And almost every country where Jews lived can show a poem or a prayer founded on these Articles. R. Jacob Molin (1420) of Germany speaks of metrical and rhymed songs in the German language, the burden of which was the Thirteen Articles, and which were