To use a mundane example, think of baseball. There are many intricate rules and strategies in the game. But in order to play on the most elementary level there are a few basics without which you cannot play.

Judaism’s basics are encapsulated in what are called the Thirteen Principles. These were composed by Maimonides, one of the greatest Jewish scholars of all time. Some Jews have the custom of reciting these principles everyday after the morning service. These principles are also expressed in the famous synagogue prayer “Yigdal.”

Here they are:

1. That the Creator creates and controls everything. He alone has made, is making, and will make all things.
2. That the Creator is one. There is no other unity like His. He alone is our G-d. He was, He is, and He will always be.
3. That the Creator is not a physical being. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. Nothing at all resembles Him.
4. That the Creator is without beginning and without end; He precedes all existence.
5. That it is proper to pray only to the Creator. It is not proper to pray to anything else.
6. That the Creator communicates through His prophets.
7. That the prophecy of Moses was true. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and after him.
8. That the entire Torah (both Oral and Written), which we now have is that which was given to Moses.
9. That the Torah will not be changed. The Creator will not give another Torah.
10. That the Creator is aware of all of man’s deeds and thoughts.
11. That the Creator rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those who disobey His commandments.
12. That the Messiah will come. Even though he will delay, every day I will expect his arrival.
13. That the dead will be brought back to life. The Creator will decree the time for this awakening.