kavvanah

Kavvanah, from the Hebrew for "direction" or "intention," is a term used in Judaism to describe the mental focus or devotion accompanying prayer and ritual actions. It denotes directing the heart and mind to the meaning and purpose of the words and deeds, rather than performing them mechanically.

Rabbinic sources treat kavvanah as an important factor in the efficacy of prayer and mitzvot. The intention of the heart is seen as amplifying the spiritual effect of recited prayers and commanded actions. While some authorities stress that prayer requires kavvanah to be fully effective, others permit that commandment-fulfillment remains valid even when concentration is limited, with intention increasing its value.

Practically, kavvanah can involve focusing on the meaning of liturgy, aligning wishes with divine will, and directing breath or voice toward sacred aims. In the performance of mitzvot, it means intending to fulfill the commandment for its own sake, not as mere habit.

In Jewish mysticism, particularly Lurianic Kabbalah and Hasidism, kavvanot are elaborated as structured meditations. Practitioners link words to divine names or sefirot and to the liturgy’s spiritual map, sometimes using contemplative techniques tied to ritual actions and breath, to cultivate devekut, or attachment to God.

Today, kavvanah remains a central idea in many communities, shaping both liturgy and practice. Attaining it is viewed as a lifelong aim rather than a fixed requirement, with guidelines differing across traditions.