Contemplative Prayer
Hasidic Prayer December 1, 1984 Louis Jacobs
Concentration (kavvanah) in prayer has different meanings across Jewish traditions. In classical rabbinic sources, kavvanah means being conscious of standing in God's presence and attending to the meaning of the words of prayer. In Kabbalah, especially the Lurianic version, the concept shifts to mystical contemplation as the central practice. This chapter traces the history of these practices, showing how the doctrine of kavvanah developed from a focus on mindful prayer to a system of mystical contemplation.