Daily Tanya 21st Adar 2: Chapter 38-The importance of both Kavanah and action in a Mitzvah

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Chapter 38: The importance of both Kavanah and action in a Mitzvah

(LY) 21st Adar 2

1.      Speech versus thought of a Mitzvah:

  • The thought of a Mitzvah is invalid without its speech or action: Based on the information in the previous chapter, one can understand the following law: The Talmud and Poskim rule that thought is unlike speech, and one who thinks the words of Shema in his heart and mind without verbalizing them, does not fulfill the Mitzvah. This applies even if he concentrates on the words in his mind and heart with all his might and strength. Nonetheless, he does not fulfill his obligation, and is required to repeat the reading. The same applies to Birchas Hamazon which is Biblical, as well as all other Rabbinical blessings, and prayer [that one who thinks the words in his heart and mind without verbalizing them, does not fulfill the Mitzvah].
  • The speech or action of a Mitzvah is valid even without its thought: On the other hand, if one verbalized the words, but did not have intent of the heart, he nevertheless fulfills his obligation, Bedieved, and is not required to repeat the prayer with exception to the first verse of Shema and the first blessing of Shemoneh Esrei, as it states in the Talmud that until here is the Mitzvah of concentration and from here and onwards is the Mitzvah of reading.
  1. The reason that speech disqualifies the Mitzvah and not thought:
  • The G-dly soul requires no fixing-Its purpose is to fix the animal soul: The [G-dly] soul [i.e. Neshama] does not require any refinement or elevation in it of itself with the fulfillment of Mitzvos, and it is rather performed solely for the sake of drawing down Divine light for the sake of refining the animal soul and body.
  • Through speaking with the five organs of one’s mouth and performing the Mitzvos with the other limbs of the body, one draws G-dliness to his body and animal soul. [Accordingly, one does not fulfill his obligation with thinking and concentration if it does not involve an action, as it does nothing to fulfill its purpose of refining the animal soul and body. Nonetheless, thought and concentration also play a vital role in the performance of a Mitzvah, as will now be explained.]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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