Netivot Olam - Class 6

[Jenna1]

Rebbetzin Heller spoke about needing "consciousness" in order to do a mitzvah.  For example, a person in a coma who doesn't break Shabbos, is not doing a mitzvah.  What about people who are actively doing a mitzvah, but not conscious of it?  For example, a Jewish friend of mine who is completely disconnected from Judaism gives money to charity and/or goes and visits her sick friend.  She knows she's doing a good thing, but is it considered a mitzvah?

Thank you so much,
jenna

[Ayelet1]

Hi Jenna, I haven't listened to this class, but your question seems to be as follows: If one does a mitzvah without having in mind that they're doing it because it's a mitzvah from Hashem, they just somehow know that it's "good", how is this counted? It's a good question. Looking forward to hearing the answer soon. Ayelet

[Tzippy2]

I think that it depends on the mitzva.  Tzedakka specifically does not need kavanna.  The gemara says that if you lose money and a poor person picks it up, you are rewarded for the mitzva of tzedakka.  But what about other mitzvot, like a man on a coma wearing tzitzit, or someone putting tefillin on him?