Editing Jewish prayer (section)

===Kabbalistic view===
[[Kabbalah]] (esoteric Jewish mysticism) uses a series of ''[[kavanot]]'', directions of intent, to specify the path the prayer ascends in the dialogue with God, to increase its chances of being answered favorably. Kabbalism ascribes a higher meaning to the purpose of prayer, which is no less than affecting the very fabric of reality itself, restructuring and repairing the universe in a real fashion. In this view, every word of every prayer, and indeed, even every letter of every word, has a precise meaning and a precise effect. Prayers thus literally affect the mystical forces of the universe, and repair the fabric of creation.

This approach has been taken by the [[Chassidei Ashkenaz]] (German pietists of the Middle-Ages), the [[Zohar]], the [[Isaac Luria|Arizal's]] Kabbalist tradition, the [[Moshe Chaim Luzzatto|Ramchal]], most of [[Hasidic Judaism|Hassidism]], the [[Vilna Gaon]] and [[Jacob Emden]].

[[Hasidic Judaism|Hassidism]], although incorporating the kabbalistic worldview and its corresponding kavanot, also emphasized straightforward sincerity and depth of emotional engagement in prayer.<ref>Green, Arthur et al, ''Speaking Torah: Spiritual Teachings From Around the Maggid's Table'', Jewish Lights, 2013, p.13.</ref> The [[Baal Shem Tov]]'s great-grandson, [[Nachman of Breslov|Rebbe Nachman of Breslov]], particularly emphasized speaking to God in one's own words, which he called [[Hitbodedut]] (self-seclusion) and advised setting aside an hour to do this every day.<ref>Likutei Moharan 2:25</ref>