Anonymous

Amen: Difference between revisions

From Halachipedia
18 bytes removed ,  4 November 2013
no edit summary
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 2: Line 2:
# 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==
==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>
Line 13: Line 11:
# Some say that one should answer Amen to a bracha one heard over the phone<Ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe 4:91:4)</ref>  
# Some say that one should answer Amen to a bracha one heard over the phone<Ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe 4:91:4)</ref>  
==How to Properly Answer Amen==
==How to Properly Answer Amen==
# 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>
# One shouldn't answer Amen louder than the Bracha itself unless one is doing so in order to motivate others to answer Amen.<ref>Gemara [[Brachot]] 45a, Shulchan Aruch 124:12, Mishna Brurah 124:47</ref>
# One shouldn't answer Amen louder than the Bracha itself unless one is doing so in order to motivate others to answer Amen.<ref>Gemara [[Brachot]] 45a, Shulchan Aruch 124:12, Mishna Brurah 124:47</ref>
# If one hears two [[Berachot]], one should answer Amen VeAmen rather than Amen Amen.<ref>Mishna Brurah 124:25</ref>
# If one hears two [[Berachot]], one should answer Amen VeAmen rather than Amen Amen.<ref>Mishna Brurah 124:25</ref>