Kavanah
Encyclopedia
Kavanah or Kavannah (כונה; in Biblical Hebrew Kawanah) (Intention or "direction of the heart") is the mindset often described as necessary for Jewish rituals (mitzvot).
Once the subject of great debate among medieval commentators, traditional Jewish sources now accept that fulfilling mitzvot without at least minimal kavanna is insufficient.
Different Jewish authorities see various levels of kavanah required for various rituals, and especially for prayer. Some prayerbooks (siddur
im) list kavannot for particular prayers. Some particular kavannot are associated with particular holidays, for example Sukkot
, Pesach, Shavuot
, and others.
Kavanah in prayer may require understanding of the words of prayer, and not merely reciting the sounds. Some perceive this as especially difficult to achieve for many Jews today when they pray using liturgical Hebrew, which many Jews outside of Israel do not understand.
Some kavanot are particular to the tradition of Kabbalah
, as a meditation, or in Hasidic Judaism
. In Kabbalah, Kavanah often refers to the permutations of the divine name that aim at overcoming the separation of the forces in the Upper World.
Once the subject of great debate among medieval commentators, traditional Jewish sources now accept that fulfilling mitzvot without at least minimal kavanna is insufficient.
Different Jewish authorities see various levels of kavanah required for various rituals, and especially for prayer. Some prayerbooks (siddur
Siddur
A siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
im) list kavannot for particular prayers. Some particular kavannot are associated with particular holidays, for example Sukkot
Sukkot
Sukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
, Pesach, Shavuot
Shavuot
The festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
, and others.
Kavanah in prayer may require understanding of the words of prayer, and not merely reciting the sounds. Some perceive this as especially difficult to achieve for many Jews today when they pray using liturgical Hebrew, which many Jews outside of Israel do not understand.
Some kavanot are particular to the tradition of Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
, as a meditation, or in Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
. In Kabbalah, Kavanah often refers to the permutations of the divine name that aim at overcoming the separation of the forces in the Upper World.