There are countless things that can be said about a Mitzvah; below are some things little known to the general public.
There are two types of cavanot - thoughts, intentions - that one must keep in mind when fulfilling a Mitzvah.
- The specific intention of the mitzvah one is fulfilling. That is, each mitzvah is related to a particular matter; for example, tefillin with the surrender of intellect and emotions to God, tzitzit with the awareness that God surrounds us, and so on.
- The general intention of all the Mitzvot alike, which are the will of God, is that we do such and such a thing to unite with Him.
Our sages warn us not to differentiate between the Mitzvot. Those "small" Mitzvot have the same importance as the "great" ones.
However, regarding the effect that each Mitzvah has and its reward, God lets us know certain aspects through the Torah.
For example, the mitzvah of respecting and honoring one's father and mother brings longevity, as does the mitzvah of a mezuzah. The Talmud explains that the mitzvah of tithing brings wealth, and so do other mitzvot.
Our sages teach: These are the precepts whose fruits a person enjoys in this world, while the reward is reserved for the World to Come: honoring one's father and mother, performing acts of kindness, going early to the House of Study in the morning and evening, being hospitable to visitors, visiting the sick, providing a dowry for one's bride, escorting the deceased, concentrating in prayer, and fostering peace between one person and another, and between husband and wife. And the study of Torah is equivalent to all of these.