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Kavanah

Intention: the inward direction of the heart in prayer and in performing the commandments.

Also: kavvanah, kavanot

Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism

Kavanah is attention and intention. The rabbis taught that prayer requires it; the kabbalists developed elaborate intentions, kavanot, directing each word of prayer to the sefirot. Hasidism emphasized the simple, wholehearted direction of the heart to God.