Physical Description

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Sefer ha-Ikkarim ("Book of Principles"), a famous treatise on Jewish articles of faith, by R. Joseph Albo (ca. 1380–1444) was a Jewish philosopher and rabbi who lived in Spain during the fifteenth century, known chiefly as the author of Sefer ha-Ikkarim ("Book of Principles"), the classic work on the fundamentals of Judaism.

R. Albo's birthplace is generally assumed to be Monreal del Campo, a town in Aragon. This is based on Astruc ha-Levi's report of the religious debate held at Tortosa in 1413-14, which mentions Albo as one of the Jewish participants and notes he was the delegate of the congregation of Monreal. However, the Latin account of this debate makes no reference to this locality. Heinrich Graetz believes that Albo could not have been less than thirty years of age when he was sent to take part in the disputation, and he accordingly places the date of R. Albo's birth not later than 1380. His date of death is given variously as 1444 (most likely) or 1430. He is mentioned, however, as preaching at Soria in 1433. The use R. Albo makes of medical illustrations creates the presumption that he was adept in medical science, which suggests that he may have practiced medicine. He was versed to some degree in the writings of Arab Aristotelians. His teacher was R. Hasdai ibn Crescas, author of Or Adonai.

In contradistinction to Maimonides' thirteen and R. Crescas' six, R. Albo limited the fundamental Jewish principles of faith to three:

1. belief in the existence of God
2. belief in revelation
3. belief in divine justice, as related to the idea of immortality.

The title of his book indicates his method at the outset. Basic to his investigation is the recognition that "human happiness is conditioned by knowledge and conduct." But "human intellect can not attain unto perfect knowledge and ethical conduct, since its power is limited and soon exhausted in the contemplation of the things the truth of which it would find; therefore, of necessity, there must be something above human intellect through which knowledge and conduct can attain to a degree of excellence that admits of no doubt."

The insufficiency of human intellect postulates the necessity of divine guidance; and thus it is the duty of every person to know the God-given law. But to know it is possible only if one has established the true principles, without which there can be no divine law. Seeing that on this vital theme there are so much divergence, confusion, and shallowness, Albo resolves to erect a structure for the true religion.

R. Albo states that Judaism is not only based upon the three fundamental principles, but it acknowledges also the inferences which logically should be drawn therefrom. As a consequence, Judaism is the true revealed religion. Having drawn this conclusion, Albo has attained the end for which he undertook his investigation.

Hebrew Description:

 מעבר לשער הקדמה שהועתקה כולה מן הדפוס הראשון, בתוספת דברי סיום: "ועתה נחלה פני כל מעיין בספר הזה אם ימצא בו טעיות או שגיאות מחילוף אותיות וזולתי או דילוג איזה מלה אל יחשדנו לכף חובה ויתקן אותו במקומו כי כן דרך הדפוס כמו שנודע ...
כה דברי ... יהודה בן ... כמ"ר יצחק ז"ל לבית הלוי אשכנזי, ובצרוף עמו שותפו יחיאל בכמ"ר יקותיאל הכהן".
קולופון: והיתה השלמתו ארבעה ועשרים יום לחדש אב שנת חמשת אלפים ושלש מאות וארבעה על ידי המחוקקים האומנים מיסיר זואני די פארי ואחיו המה העושים מלאכת הדפוס היופי ועל ידי הבקי במלאכה המגיה בדפוס קרניאל בכ"ר ברוך אדיל קינד.

References:

Vinograd, Venice 1112; EJ; CD-NLI 0109909; Wikipedia