[m., pl. “ma’aminim”]; one who believes; actually the “binyan,” in this context meaning the grammatical form, is “hipheil,” the “causative,” rather than “pa’al,” the “active,” indicating a more pro-active verb. In other words, believing in something of a spiritual nature, requires an effort of the mind and the imagination of the individual, and is not merely a passive “act;” as in “Ani ma’amin be-Emunah Shelemah B’viat HaMashiach …” “I believe with perfect faith in the Coming of the ‘Mashiach’ [the Messianic Redeemer of Israel],…” the Twelfth Principle of the RAMBAM.
