Devekut

Devekut, debekuth, deveikuth or deveikus (Heb. דבקות; Mod. Heb. "dedication", traditionally "clinging on" to God) 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 (the "commandments"). It is particularly associated with the Jewish mystical tradition.

Etymology

The Hebrew word for glue is דבק devek which is the root for devekut, "dvekut" or devekus. The concept of Devekut is important in Jewish culture, particularly in Hasidism and in the history of Jewish thought, mysticism, and ethics.

In modern Israeli Hebrew, "Devekut" or "dvekut" is often a synonym for dedication toward a particular goal.

In religious Judaism and in academia, "Dvekut" refers most commonly to the philosophical, mystical and Hasidic understanding of "Devekut" as "cleaving" or "attaching oneself" to God in all areas of life.

Devekut in Kabbalah

In Kabbalah, close circles of elite scholars would seek elevated mystical states of devekut, often through ascetic practices.