Search results for: ""Amen""

Amen before Shema
Some say the pre-shema blessing in shacharit or ma'ariv with the leader. Best is to finish the blessing before the leader does and then reply amen when he finishes saying the blessing. 
 
Saying Amen to Mispronunciation
Do not answer amen if the prayer leader is not saying blessings or prayers correctly, such as mispronouncing words, mumbling, slurring words, etc.
 
Saying Amen When You Cannot Hear the Blessing
Answer amen even if you cannot hear the leader saying blessings or prayers, as long as you know when he is finished each blessing.
 
Don't Answer Amen within 2.5 Seconds
Don't answer amen if you finish a prayer or blessing within 2.5 seconds after the prayer leader (cantor) finishes the same prayer or blessing as you are saying. However, in these three cases, you may say amen, even if you finish exactly together with the leader:
  • End of yishtabach;
  • End of Hallel;
  • Ma'ariv's shomer amo yisrael la'ad.
 
Wait for Amen until after Completion of Blessing
Don't say amen to reply to the prayer leader's blessing until he has completely finished the blessing.
Blessings: Answering Amen: What To Hear
When someone is saying a blessing on your behalf, you may say amen as long as you have heard at least:
  • The first six words of the blessing; and
  • At least a few words of substance in the middle of the blessing; and
  • The complete final line.
Example For the al ha'michya blessing, you must hear:
  • The first six words,
  • Al ha'michya, and
  • The final blessing line.

Interrupting Your Amida To Say Amen
When saying the amida yourself, do not say amen or any other replies to the prayer leader's repetition. If he says kedusha or kaddish:
  • Pause in your own amida and listen without answering or saying anything.
  • Once the leader has finished kedusha or kaddish, resume your private amida.
Exception If you finish the final blessing of the amida (“...Ha'mevareich et amo yisrael ba'shalom”) as the leader starts to say the kedusha, and you want to respond along with the congregation:
  • Quickly say the line, “Yihiyu l'ratzon ....,”
  • Reply to the entire kedusha (kadosh, amen, and any other words that are said by the congregation) as if you had finished the amida.
  • Once the leader has said the final blessing of kedusha, say “elohai netzur….”

Interrupting Your Blessing To Say Amen
You may not interrupt saying your own blessing in order to say amen to someone else's.
Interrupting Your Prayer To Say Amen
You may say amen to a prayer leader's blessing even if you are at a different part of the prayer service, but only at a part that you are permitted to interrupt.
          
Saying Ga'al Yisrael with Leader or Amen
The prayer leader should say out loud the blessing preceding the amida (ga'al yisrael for shacharit; ha'melech bi'chvodo for ma'ariv). If you:
  • Are up to where he is in the prayers, say the last blessing with him (and don't say amen but do say amen in ma'ariv).
  • Pray slowly and will not be able to join the minyan for saying the amida, you should start earlier than the minyan and catch up at ga'al yisrael.
 
How Loud To Say Torah Blessings
Say the blessings over the Torah loudly enough for everyone to hear and respond “amen.” 
 
Amida with Minyan but with less than Nine Men Answering
On Shabbat, even if there will not be at least nine men answering amen to the reader's repetition of the amida, the reader should say the repetition anyway, without intending that his repetition be counted as a nedava (which can only be offered on weekdays). If less than six men will be answering, the leader must wait before doing the repetition.
 
Birkat HaMazon: How To Join Mezuman and Continue Eating
To join a mezuman and continue eating:
1)  Reply to “rabotai nevareich,” etc.,
2)  Say amen after the leader says the first paragraph's final blessing, and then
3)  Finish eating and say birkat ha'mazon on your own.
 
Replying during Your Private Amida
If you have finished the amida's yihiyu l'ratzon(but have not yet finished the segment from Elohai netzur through u'chshanim kadmoniyot), you may reply to:
  • Bar'chu,
  • Kedusha,
  • Amen to ha'el ha'kadosh,
  • Amen to shomei'a tefila,
  • Modim anachnu lach (just those 3 words),
  • Birkat cohanim, and
  • Kaddish.
However, you may not say anything else (such as other amens) until you have completed the entire amida (including the last word, kadmoniot).
 
100 Blessings on Shabbat and Jewish Festivals
On Shabbat and some Jewish festivals, you might want to fulfill some of the quota for making 100 blessings by:
  • Eating extra fruit or other foods,
  • Hearing and saying amen to the blessings over the:
    • Torah reading,
    • Reader's repetition of the amida for shacharit and musaf, and
    • Haftara by the maftir.