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Mitzvot need Kavana: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Kavanah.jpg|frame|150px|Man praying with Kavanah (sincere intent). | [[File:Kavanah.jpg|frame|150px|Man praying with Kavanah (sincere intent).]] | ||
Kavanah is a mindset necessary for the performance of many mitzvot. There's two types of Kavanah (intentions) for mitzvot: | |||
# One is the concentration on the mitzvah in exclusion of all other things and sincerity of heart about what one is saying. Preferably one should have this intention, however, after the fact if one didn't one has fulfilled the mitzvah except by the first pasuk of Shema and the first bracha of Shemona Esreh where this intent is absolutely necessary even after the fact. <ref>Mishna Brurah 60:7 </ref> See the details of this in the section [[Mitzvot that require special Kavana]]. | |||
# The second type of Kavanah is that prior to performing a mitzvah one should think that I am hereby going to fulfill a particular Mitzvah. According to all opinions it's preferable to have this intent, however, according to the accepted opinion this intent is necessary even after the fact (in most cases). <ref>Mishna Brurah 60:7 </ref>The details of this second Kavanah are discussed below. | |||
==The basic obligation== | ==The basic obligation== | ||
# Even though many Rishonim hold that Mitzvot don’t need Kavana (intent) to fulfill the mitzvah <ref> Rabbenu Chananel (Brachot 13a), Ravyah (Brachot 1:45), Or Zaruh (Shema 31), Rashbetz in name of Rav Shrira Goan and other Geonim, Rav Yitzchak Even Giyat in Meah Sharim (1 pg 36) in name of Rav Hai Goan, Rashbam (quoted by Talmedei Rabbenu Yonah 6a), Bal HaMoar (3rd Perek of Rosh Hashana), Itur (Shofar 2:1 pg 59b), Sefer Eshkol 3:6 pg 12, Sefer Hashlama (Brachot 13a), Sefer Meorot (Brachot 13a), Raah (Brachot 13a), Rashba (Brachot 13a; Sh”t Rashba 1:344), Ritva (Rosh Hashana 28b), and Meiri Brachot 13a-b, Sefer HaShulchan (Shema 2), Radvaz (4:1094 against what he writes in 6:2246) hold that Mitzvot don’t need Kavana to fulfill the mitzvah. Bal HaMoar, Talmedei Rabbenu Yonah, and Tur writes that even these opinions will hold that Lechatchila one should have Kavana. </ref> as long as one has Kavana to do the action of the Mitzvah and not to do it by accident one fulfilled one's obligation, nonetheless, <Ref> Rosh Hashana 32b and 33b say that a Metasek someone just involved in some action and by accident the mitzvah happens one doesn’t fulfill the obligation (even according to the opinions that hold Mitzvot don’t need Kavana). So rules S”A 589:10. </ref> Halacha follows the many Rishonim who hold that Mitzvot need Kavana to fulfill the Mitzvah. <Ref> Bahag (Brachot 2, 7) holds Mitzvot need Kavana. Rif (Rosh Hashana 7b) seems to agree as he rules like Rabbi Zeira that Shofar needs Kavana. Ravyah 2:533, Ramban (Milchamot Rosh Hashana 7b), Rosh (Rosh Hashana 3:11), Rabbenu Yerucham 6:2, Ran (Halachot Rosh Hashana 28b), and Meiri (Rosh Hashana 28b) explain the Rif in this way. Rashba (Rosh Hashana 28b), and Orchot Chaim (Shofar 8) explains Rif that one doesn’t need Kavana for Mitzvah just Kavana to listen to the Shofar. Tur 589 and Bet Yosef 589 understand the Rosh that Mitzvot need Kavana (See Sh”t Mishpat Tzedek 2:62 who explains that the Rosh holds only by Deoritta’s one needs Kavana). Rambam (Shofar 2:4) rules one needs Kavana but by Matzah 6:3 he rules one doesn’t need kavana. Ravad (Pesachim 10th Perek), Meiri and Ran (Rosh Hashana 28b) answer that Matzah doesn’t need Kavana because one gets benefit; thus, Rambam holds Mitzvot need Kavana. S”A 60:6, 589:8 rules that the halacha is Mitzvot need Kavana. </ref> If one has Kavana not to fulfill one’s obligation according to all opinions one doesn’t fulfill his obligation. <Ref> Bet Yosef 589 and S”A 6:4 rules that if one has Kavana not to be Yotze one doesn’t fulfill the obligation against one’s will based on many Rishonim unlike the Raah. See Sh”t Otzrot Yosef 3:9 </ref> | # Even though many Rishonim hold that Mitzvot don’t need Kavana (intent) to fulfill the mitzvah <ref> Rabbenu Chananel (Brachot 13a), Ravyah (Brachot 1:45), Or Zaruh (Shema 31), Rashbetz in name of Rav Shrira Goan and other Geonim, Rav Yitzchak Even Giyat in Meah Sharim (1 pg 36) in name of Rav Hai Goan, Rashbam (quoted by Talmedei Rabbenu Yonah 6a), Bal HaMoar (3rd Perek of Rosh Hashana), Itur (Shofar 2:1 pg 59b), Sefer Eshkol 3:6 pg 12, Sefer Hashlama (Brachot 13a), Sefer Meorot (Brachot 13a), Raah (Brachot 13a), Rashba (Brachot 13a; Sh”t Rashba 1:344), Ritva (Rosh Hashana 28b), and Meiri Brachot 13a-b, Sefer HaShulchan (Shema 2), Radvaz (4:1094 against what he writes in 6:2246) hold that Mitzvot don’t need Kavana to fulfill the mitzvah. Bal HaMoar, Talmedei Rabbenu Yonah, and Tur writes that even these opinions will hold that Lechatchila one should have Kavana. </ref> as long as one has Kavana to do the action of the Mitzvah and not to do it by accident one fulfilled one's obligation, nonetheless, <Ref> Rosh Hashana 32b and 33b say that a Metasek someone just involved in some action and by accident the mitzvah happens one doesn’t fulfill the obligation (even according to the opinions that hold Mitzvot don’t need Kavana). So rules S”A 589:10. </ref> Halacha follows the many Rishonim who hold that Mitzvot need Kavana to fulfill the Mitzvah. <Ref> Bahag (Brachot 2, 7) holds Mitzvot need Kavana. Rif (Rosh Hashana 7b) seems to agree as he rules like Rabbi Zeira that Shofar needs Kavana. Ravyah 2:533, Ramban (Milchamot Rosh Hashana 7b), Rosh (Rosh Hashana 3:11), Rabbenu Yerucham 6:2, Ran (Halachot Rosh Hashana 28b), and Meiri (Rosh Hashana 28b) explain the Rif in this way. Rashba (Rosh Hashana 28b), and Orchot Chaim (Shofar 8) explains Rif that one doesn’t need Kavana for Mitzvah just Kavana to listen to the Shofar. Tur 589 and Bet Yosef 589 understand the Rosh that Mitzvot need Kavana (See Sh”t Mishpat Tzedek 2:62 who explains that the Rosh holds only by Deoritta’s one needs Kavana). Rambam (Shofar 2:4) rules one needs Kavana but by Matzah 6:3 he rules one doesn’t need kavana. Ravad (Pesachim 10th Perek), Meiri and Ran (Rosh Hashana 28b) answer that Matzah doesn’t need Kavana because one gets benefit; thus, Rambam holds Mitzvot need Kavana. S”A 60:6, 589:8 rules that the halacha is Mitzvot need Kavana. </ref> If one has Kavana not to fulfill one’s obligation according to all opinions one doesn’t fulfill his obligation. <Ref> Bet Yosef 589 and S”A 6:4 rules that if one has Kavana not to be Yotze one doesn’t fulfill the obligation against one’s will based on many Rishonim unlike the Raah. See Sh”t Otzrot Yosef 3:9 </ref> | ||
