Q. Someone who volunteers daily for meals on wheels delivery of kosher meals to the sick and needy and also donates daily to a pushka of tzedaka for the poor, if he does that also in Purim does he keep the mitzva of shalach manot and matanot laevyonim without having special intention? Is one obliged to tell him to have kavana for the mitzva during Purim?
A. On question 363 regarding intention on social mitzvos we wrote: Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a pointed out that in regards to Kavanah in Mitzvos, there is a difference between the commandments Ben Adam Lamakom, or the ones that involve only complying with the will of Hashem and the ones that additionally benefit others or society too. On the former you need intention, on the latter, it is generally accepted that after the fact you comply with the Mitzvah even if performed without intention, as the benefit was done nonetheless.
The following Poiskim maintain a similar view; Ahavas Tzion , drush 10 in the name of his father the Noda B’eyehuda, Yabia Haomer Y.D. 6: 29, also Chida in Pesach Einaim in regards to Tzedakah and Ridbaz 3: 441. (See also Yosef Ometz 13).
However, Bais Halevy (drush 1), disagrees in regards to Tzdakah and Binas Simcha p. 144 compiled an extensive list of Mitzvos Ben Adam Lechavero that he considers require Kavanah. Chofetz Chaim in Ahavas Chesed (23) also maintains a similar opinion. And in Mishna Berurah (695: 4) quotes P'ri Megadim that one may require intention for complying with shalach monos and matonos for the poor.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that on social mitzvos the kavanah for mitzva is not esential.
However, the meals provided may be the donation of other people who paid for them and the monies placed on the pushka may not reach the needy during Purim, so he would not comply those mitzvos even with intention.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
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