© 2008
When another person says a bracha, we answer “amen”
as a testament that the statement is true.
by Rabbi Chaim Gross and Rabbi Shraga Simmons
“Amen.” So much is contained in this one small word. The root of the
Hebrew word for “faith” (emunah) is the word amen. Saying “amen”
declares our belief in God and His dependability.1
Amen is also an acronym for the words El Melech Ne’eman, which means
“God, the Trusted King.”2
1
2
Midrash – Tehillim 89; Talmud – Shavuot 36a
Talmud – Shabbat 119b
1
Saying “amen” is not just a nice thing to do. Whenever you hear someone
else saying a bracha, you should answer amen, having in mind to affirm
that the words of the bracha are true.3 This brings with it boundless
potential, as the Sages say: “The gates of Heaven are opened up for
whoever answers ‘amen’ with all his might.”4
In fact, the Talmud5 suggests that in one respect, answering “amen” is even
greater than reciting the bracha itself. This is because confirming the bracha
with “amen” resembles bearing witness in a court of Jewish law, where two
witnesses are required to validate a testimony.6 Another reason given is
that the one answering “amen” – unlike the person saying the bracha and
eating – receives no physical benefit from the bracha.7
When is “Amen” Said?
You should say “amen” only to a bracha which another person says, but
not to your own bracha.8 As we said, “amen” is a testament that the
statement is true, and it makes no sense to validate your own statement.
However, there is a way to “join in” the “amen” that enhances your bracha:
Have intent to be “included” in the “amen” that other people will say on
your bracha!9
In addition to the food-related blessings, you should also say “amen”:
• in response to blessings said by others in the context of prayer and
mitzvot10
• to the Harachaman blessings said by others in Birkat Hamazon11
• even to informal “blessings” given by one person to another (e.g.
“Good luck on the test.” “Amen!”)12
3
Orach Chaim 124:6; Magen Avraham (OC 124:10)
Talmud – Shabbat 119b; Aruch HaShulchan (OC 124:11)
5
Brachot 53b, Nazir 66
4
6
Rabbeinu Bechaye (Exodus 14:31)
Maharal (Netivat Olam - Netiv Ha'Avodah 11)
8
Orach Chaim 215:1. A noted exception is the third blessing of Birkat Hamazon, where one does conclude with “amen.”
This is to indicate the completion of a series of Torah-level brachot (Rema – Orach Chaim 215:1, with Mishnah Berurah
7
4). It is important to pause slightly before this “amen,” to show that it is not part of the main text (Mishnah Berurah
188:2).
9
Rema – Orach Chaim 167:2
10
11
Midrash, cited in Mishnah Berurah 215:9
Mishnah Berurah 215:9
2
In order to say “amen,” it is important to hear every word of the blessing.
Failing that, you need to minimally hear the end of the blessing.13 At the
very least, you need to know which blessing you are “attesting” to; e.g. if
you see someone holding a carrot and mouthing a bracha, you could
answer “amen” even if you did not hear it.14
Technically, whenever hearing another
person’s bracha, you should say the
words Baruch Hu U’varuch Shemo
(“Blessed be He, and blessed be His
Name”) after the words Baruch Ata
Ad-onoy.
commonly
These
said
days,
in
the
it
is
most
synagogue,
particularly when responding to the
repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei. In
any event, it should not be said by someone who is being yotzei with the
blessing.15
Pronunciation
• “Amen” should not be said louder than the blessing itself.16
• “Amen” should not be drawn out too long, nor cut too short. Aim for the
approximate time it takes to say the words El Melech Ne’eman17 (for which
“amen” is an acronym).
• It is important to carefully pronounce the word;18 the correct Ashkenazi
pronunciation is “awe-main.”
12
Mishnah Berurah 215:9
13
Rema – Orach Chaim 124:8, with Biur Halacha – s.v. V’yeish
Mishnah Berurah 124:33, 215:6. The Talmud (Sukkah 51b) says that the Great Synagogue of Alexandria, Egypt had
thousands of worshippers, and someone had to wave a flag to signal when the chazan had completed a bracha and it
was time to say amen. This indicates that actually “hearing” the blessing is not an absolute requirement; it is sufficient to
14
know which blessing has been said.
Orach Chaim 124:5, with Mishnah Berurah 21
16
Orach Chaim 124:12
15
17
18
Orach Chaim 124:8, with Mishnah Berurah 36
Orach Chaim 124:8
3
Timing
• You must wait until the person has completed his blessing before you
say “amen.”19
• But then don’t delay – you should say “amen” as soon as the person has
finished, at least within 3 seconds.20
When is “Amen” Not Said?
• Do not say “amen” to an invalid blessing. For example, if you see
someone mistakenly say Hamotzee on an apple, don’t say “amen.”21
• If you are in a place where you couldn’t say a bracha, you can’t say
“amen” either.
Mike was in the bathroom when he heard his wife in the kitchen
saying a bracha. Since the bathroom is a place where a bracha may
not be said (see class #25), Mike may not answer “amen.”22
• If you have spoken after the
person
finished
his
blessing,
you’ve lost the chance to say
“amen.”23
• If you hear a bracha said over a
microphone or the telephone,
you should answer “amen,” but
not if you hear a bracha said on a
recording.24 (It is doubtful whether
one can be yotzei a bracha when hearing it over the telephone.25)
19
20
Orach Chaim 124:8, with Mishnah Berurah 29, 30, 35
Mishnah Berurah 124:34
21
Orach Chaim 215:4
Rema – Orach Chaim 84:1
23
Taz (OC 124:6) with comments of Rabbi Akiva Eiger
22
24
25
Shu"t Igros Moshe (OC 4:91:4)
Shu"t Igros Moshe (OC 2:108); Yechaveh Da’at 2:68
4
• Don’t say “amen” when a child says a bracha just for practice. However,
if the child is reciting a proper bracha at the correct time, then answer
“amen.”26
The Tzaddik
There is a beautiful statement of the Sages based on the gematria
(numerical value) of the word “tzaddik” (righteous person).27 As shown
here, a tzaddik should endeavor to answer amen 90 times during the course
of a day.
Furthermore, in reading from right to left, we see that one should try to
answer the Kedusha prayer 4 times each day, and Kaddish 10 times. The
idea of saying 100 brachot each day will be the topic of class #43.
For Review
• The gates of Heaven are opened up for whoever answers “amen” with all
his might.
• You should say “amen” only to a bracha which another person makes, but
not to your own bracha.
• For Ashkenazim, the correct pronunciation is “awe-main.”
• You should say “amen” immediately after hearing the end of the bracha.
• Do not say “amen” to an invalid blessing, or if you are in an unclean
place.
26
27
Orach Chaim 215:3
Remah M’Pano 109, citing Sefer HaTikkunim
5