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Amen: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==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==
==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>
# 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==
==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>
# 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>
# 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>
# 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>