Periagoge
Concept
1 min read

The Longing for Divine Connection

Rumi's teaching on the soul's yearning for God as the foundation of Jewish spiritual practice and devotional life.

Rumi
Why It Matters

Rumi teaches that longing itself is the path to the Divine—the soul's restless ache for union with God is not a problem to solve but a sacred calling to embrace. In Judaism, this translates to the concept of devekuth (cleaving to God), where yearning becomes the engine of spiritual growth. The daily prayers, especially the Shema, embody this longing. Rumi's Sufi practice of turning toward love reveals how Jewish devotion—through prayer, study, and mitzvot—channels this same sacred longing. The mystics of Kabbalah understood that desire itself, when directed toward holiness, becomes the ladder between human and Divine. This framework helps modern Jews recognize that spiritual restlessness is not faithlessness but the soul's authentic response to transcendence, transforming daily practice into an expression of profound love.

Helpful guides
Rumi
Faith & Meaning
Peri
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