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Amen: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
# Chazal viewed the recitation of [[Amen]] very highly. In fact, Chazal tell us that responding [[Amen]] is of greater significance than reciting the Beracha. The failure to recite [[Amen]] is considered a gross transgression, while responding [[Amen]] with great concentration opens the gates of Gan Eden. <ref>Gemara [[Brachot]] 53b, Chaye Adam (Klal 6:1), Gemara [[Shabbat]] 119b, Rashi [[Shabbat]] 119b s.v. BeChol</ref>
# Chazal viewed the recitation of [[Amen]] very highly. In fact, Chazal tell us that responding [[Amen]] is of greater significance than reciting the Beracha. The failure to recite [[Amen]] is considered a gross transgression, while responding [[Amen]] with great concentration opens the gates of Gan Eden. <ref>Gemara [[Brachot]] 53b, Chaye Adam (Klal 6:1), Gemara [[Shabbat]] 119b, Rashi [[Shabbat]] 119b s.v. BeChol</ref>
# The letters of [[Amen]] are the root letters of the word Emunah, belief or trust. By responding [[Amen]] one declares: "I believe in the bracha that I have just heard and I affirm its truth." Additionally, when responding [[Amen]] one should have in mind the beginning of the Bracha, "Baruch Atta Hashem", that Hashem's name is Blessed. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 124:6, Mishna Brurah 124:24</ref>
# The letters of [[Amen]] are the root letters of the word Emunah, belief or trust. By responding [[Amen]] one declares: "I believe in the bracha that I have just heard and I affirm its truth." Additionally, when responding [[Amen]] one should have in mind the beginning of the Bracha, "Baruch Atta Hashem", that Hashem's name is Blessed. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 124:6, Mishna Brurah 124:24</ref>
==Proper Intent==
# The proper intention of the word [[Amen]] changes with the Bracha. When [[answering Amen]] to [[Birchot HaMitzvah]] or [[Birchot HaNehenin]], one's intention should be to affirm the truth of the Bracha and his belief in it. When answering to Birchot HaShevach, one should have in mind that he is affirming the truth of that praise. When responding [[Amen]] to Tefillot one's [[Amen]] should be a request of Hashem to fulfill that [[prayer]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 124:6, Mishna Brurah 124:10,25, Vezot HaBracha pg 188</ref>
==When to Answer Amen==
# If a person hears a Bracha made properly by a Jew there’s a obligation to answer Amen. (The obligation is based on the פסוק of כי שם יהוה אקרא הבו גדל לאלהינו). <ref> S”A 215:2, Mishna Brurah 215:8, Rambam Hilchot [[Berachot]] 1:13, Kaf Hachayim 124:30 </ref>
# One should answer [[Amen]] to any blessing one hears whether he wishes to fulfill an obligation or not. Moreover, the obligation to respond [[Amen]] even applies to a Bracha that does not contain Hashem's Name, such as answering to a Mi Sheberach or HaRachaman. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 124:6, 189:5, 215:9 </ref>
# One should answer [[Amen]] to any blessing one hears whether he wishes to fulfill an obligation or not. Moreover, the obligation to respond [[Amen]] even applies to a Bracha that does not contain Hashem's Name, such as answering to a Mi Sheberach or HaRachaman. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 124:6, 189:5, 215:9 </ref>
# The proper intention of the word [[Amen]] changes with the Bracha. When [[answering Amen]] to [[Birchot HaMitzvah]] or [[Birchot HaNehenin]], one's intention should be to affirm the truth of the Bracha and his belief in it. When answering to Birchot HaShevach, one should have in mind that he is affirming the truth of that praise. When responding [[Amen]] to Tefillot one's [[Amen]] should be a request of Hashem to fulfill that [[prayer]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 124:6, Mishna Brurah 124:25</ref>
# When reciting [[Kiddush]] on Friday night, we say the words "ויהי ערב ויהי בקר" quietly before saying "יום הששי". In truth, ויהי ערב is actually the second part of the Passuk which precedes יום הששי. We don’t say those words out loud because the first letters of יום הששי ויכלו השמים form the name of Hashem.<ref>Rama 271:10, Levush 271:10, Aruch HaShulchan 271:25, Chatom Sofer OC 10</ref>
# When reciting [[Kiddush]] on Friday night, we say the words "ויהי ערב ויהי בקר" quietly before saying "יום הששי". In truth, ויהי ערב is actually the second part of the Passuk which precedes יום הששי. We don’t say those words out loud because the first letters of יום הששי ויכלו השמים form the name of Hashem.<ref>Rama 271:10, Levush 271:10, Aruch HaShulchan 271:25, Chatom Sofer OC 10</ref>
# If a person hears a Bracha made properly by a Jew there’s a obligation to answer Amen. (The obligation is based on the פסוק of כי שם יהוה אקרא הבו גדל לאלהינו). <ref> S”A 215:2, Mishna Brurah 215:8, Rambam Hilchot [[Berachot]] 1:13, Kaf Hachayim 124:30 </ref>
# It’s proper to answer Amen after a [[Tefillah]] or Bracha even if it doesn’t have the name of Hashem ([[Shem UMalchut]]) for example: the Mi SheBerach (מי שברך), Harachaman (הרחמן) in [[benching]], and some add “Makom Yenachem Etchem…”. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 215:9, Vezot HaBracha pg 188 in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman </ref>
# It’s proper to answer Amen after a [[Tefillah]] or Bracha even if it doesn’t have the name of Hashem ([[Shem UMalchut]]) for example: the Mi SheBerach (מי שברך), Harachaman (הרחמן) in [[benching]], and some add “Makom Yenachem Etchem…”. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 215:9, Vezot HaBracha pg 188 in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman </ref>
# The proper intent one should have when saying Amen is “ the Bracha being made is true and I believe in Hashem”. For a Bracha of a request or [[Tefillah]] one’s intent should include “it’s should be Hashem’s will that it comes true.” <Ref>Mishna Brurah 124:10, Vezot HaBracha pg 188) </ref>
# One may answer amen to a Yehi Ratzon a Jew says even if the Yehi Ratzon didn't have Hashem's name in it.<ref>Nitei Gavriel [[Rosh Hashana]] 29:23</ref>
# Amen must be said within [[Toch Kedi Dibbur]] (2-3 seconds) of the Bracha or if one’s in a congregation one can say Amen until the majority of the congregation has finished saying Amen. <Ref>Rama 124:8 says that the Amen must be said immediately after the Bracha and Mishna Brurah 124:34 explain it means [[Toch Kedi Dibbur]]. Vezot HaBracha (pg 189) agrees. </ref>
# Amen must be said within [[Toch Kedi Dibbur]] (2-3 seconds) of the Bracha or if one’s in a congregation one can say Amen until the majority of the congregation has finished saying Amen. <Ref>Rama 124:8 says that the Amen must be said immediately after the Bracha and Mishna Brurah 124:34 explain it means [[Toch Kedi Dibbur]]. Vezot HaBracha (pg 189) agrees. </ref>
# When hearing a Bracha over a microphone, if one’s in the same room one may answer Amen, if not don’t answer. <Ref>Vezot HaBracha (pg 189) in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman </ref>
# When hearing a Bracha over a microphone, if one’s in the same room one may answer Amen, if not don’t answer. <Ref>Vezot HaBracha (pg 189) in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman </ref>
# One may answer amen to a Yehi Ratzon a Jew says even if the Yehi Ratzon didn't have Hashem's name in it.<ref>Nitei Gavriel [[Rosh Hashana]] 29:23</ref>
==Amen Yetoma==
==Amen Yetoma==
# If one is obligated in a certain Bracha and one didn’t hear the Bracha it’s forbidden to answer Amen, which is called [[Amen Yetoma]]. If one is not obligated in the mitzvah as long as one knows which Bracha is being made it’s permissible to answer Amen. <Ref>S”A 124:8 holds that only is a person was obligated in a Bracha and didn’t hear it, even if one knows which Bracha is being made, one can’t answer Amen. However, if one wasn’t obligated in the Bracha, one wasn’t obligated in a Bracha, one may answer as long as one hears others saying Amen even if one doesn’t know which Bracha was made. Yet, Rama argues that even by [[Brachot]] that one’s not obligated in one shouldn’t answer Amen if one doesn’t know which Bracha was made. However, if one knows which Bracha is being made one may answer amen if one’s not obligated in the Bracha. </ref>
# If one is obligated in a certain Bracha and one didn’t hear the Bracha it’s forbidden to answer Amen, which is called [[Amen Yetoma]]. If one is not obligated in the mitzvah as long as one knows which Bracha is being made it’s permissible to answer Amen. <Ref>S”A 124:8 holds that only is a person was obligated in a Bracha and didn’t hear it, even if one knows which Bracha is being made, one can’t answer Amen. However, if one wasn’t obligated in the Bracha, one wasn’t obligated in a Bracha, one may answer as long as one hears others saying Amen even if one doesn’t know which Bracha was made. Yet, Rama argues that even by [[Brachot]] that one’s not obligated in one shouldn’t answer Amen if one doesn’t know which Bracha was made. However, if one knows which Bracha is being made one may answer amen if one’s not obligated in the Bracha. </ref>