Let’s Answer Amen!

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

Are there any specific kavanos (intentions) to have when responding Amen?

The intent that one is to have in mind upon answering Amen is that the brachah heard is true and we believe in it. This intent is only applicable for those brachos that are factual statements of Hashem’s greatness (such as Baruch She’amar, Yishtabach, and Go’al Yisrael, or any brachah that expresses gratitude to Hashem, such as over food or fragrance). For those statements that are an appeal to Hashem, such as the stanzas of Kaddish (which is a request that Hashem return His Shechinah) and the like, you should focus on the future, that the words will come true and that these requests will be speedily fulfilled.

For those brachos that are a combination, it’s proper to have both intentions in mind. An example of such brachos are the middle blessings of the chazzan’s repetition, as well as the brachos of Retzei and Sim Shalom.

A coworker always says her birchos hashachar out loud in the office every morning, and most of the women answer Amen. I feel very small, but this daily interruption ruins my concentration on my work, and I’d like to ask her to do this somewhere else. Should I?

Not only should you, but you’re actually required to ask her to do so somewhere else, since you’re working for an employer who is paying for your time, and by not concentrating properly on your work, you’re shortchanging your employer. What she is doing has no real basis in halachah, and while it may be a nice and heartwarming thing to do, it may not be done at the expense of other people.

My niece is getting married in Israel this week, and while I can’t fly in to attend, there will be a livestream hookup for all those like me. I never know if I’m supposed to say Amen to the brachos recited if they’re in real time, albeit over microphone hookup.

It’s permitted, but not required, to answer Amen to a brachah that is heard in real time, even if it is transmitted over the phone, Zoom, or livestream. You may not recite Amen to a recording.