page_title: Devekut
section_title: Deveikut and Hasidic prayer
hierarchical_section_title: Devekut / In Hasidism / Deveikut and Jewish observance / Deveikut and Hasidic prayer
caption_attribution_description: Bircza. Building of the old mikvah. Budynek dawnej mykwy w Birczy.
context_page_description: Devekut, debekuth, deveikuth or deveikus is a Jewish concept referring to closeness to God. It may refer to a deep, trance-like meditative state attained during Jewish prayer, Torah study, or when performing the 613 mitzvot. It is particularly associated with the Jewish mystical tradition.
context_section_description: The Baal Shem Tov taught the spiritual value of simple Jewish folk. This was at a time after the 17th century Khmelnytsky Uprising had devastated Jewish communities in the Ukraine, and a gap had evolved between the centres of Talmudic scholarship and the unlettered masses. With the traditional preeminence in Rabbinic Judaism on Torah study, it was perceived that the unlettered masses, though not at fault, were spiritually inferior. Maggidim toured Jewish communities offering admonishment of further punishment as a means of encouraging Jewish observance among the disenfranchised masses. In this arena, the Baal Shem Tov's mysticism taught that the sincere common folk could be closer to God than a scholar who has self-pride in his accomplishments. He conveyed his revolutionary ideas in parables, stories and terse teachings among the market places of the populace. The legendary tales about him, later copied in Shivchei HaBesht and other hagiographic compilations describe how much he cherished the sincere prayers of the simple, artless folk. In perhaps the most characteristic Hasidic story, the Baal Shem Tov's conduct instructed his new mystical teaching and boundless delight in the unlettered deveikut of the simple folk:
  The saintly prayers of the Baal Shem Tov and his close circle were unable to lift a harsh Heavenly decree they perceived one Rosh Hashanah (New Year). After extending the prayers beyond their time, the danger remained. An unlettered shepherd boy entered and was deeply envious of those who could read the holy day's prayers. He said to God "I don't know how to pray, but I can make the noises of the animals of the field. "With great feeling, he cried out, "Cock-a-doodle-do. God have mercy!" Immediately, joy overcame the Baal Shem Tov, and he hurried to finish the day's prayers. Afterwards, he explained that the heartfelt prayer of the shepherd boy opened the Gates of Heaven, and the decree was lifted.
  Through this emphasis, Hasidism popularised Jewish mysticism. It offered deveikut, that had previously been restricted in transcendent Kabbalistic forms, in new tangible, direct immanent perception. Later Hasidic paths adopted different methods in Jewish meditation for prayer, from the Breslov fostering of emotional Hitbodedut ("secluded" prayer), to Chabad intellectual Hitbonenut ("Contemplative" prayer).
  A part this simple and emphatic inclusion in meditation for God, in the text Likutey Halakhot of Breslov hassidic groups, they teach one of the most hidden form of jewish prayers: one prayer is usually realized after some time, for example to have good business, sons and other important desires of religious man, but this is manifestation before or at the instant of "Devekut", as follow:
  The Tabernacle was the resting place for the Divine Presence, which manifests via the prayers of the Jews. The entire Jewish nation camped around the Tabernacle, since each Jew acquired a portion in it through his prayers. For example, just as the contributions of many Jews combined to furnish the 100 silver sockets at the bases of the beams, the prayers of many Jews combined to create all the beams, bars, pillars, tapestries and vessels of the Tabernacle. Today, the more Jews who become involved in prayer, the more parts will be built for the "Temple", until the Divine Presence will be revealed once again
  — Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
  "Devekut" will be direct real revelation of good jewish intention to do Mitzvot and this should be unic true method to have miracle and manifestation of God.
caption: Mikveh (Ritual immersion pool) in Bircza, Poland. Hasidic custom encouraged male followers to prepare for daily or Sabbath prayer with immersion for mystical elevation
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