Amen: When, How, and Why

The Talmud tells us that answering Amen to a brachah is greater than reciting the brachah itself. Just as brachot have rules to them, answering Amen has its own rules.

When to Answer Amen

Question: Sometimes, especially in synagogue, a brachah is drawn out with a melody. Can I answer Amen to a brachah before the person finishes the whole blessing?

Answer: No. You should wait until the last word of the brachah has been completed before answering Amen.

What appears to be an exception is following the brachah "Boneh Yerushalayim" in Birkat Hamazon, when we answer Amen immediately after hearing the words "Boneh Yerushalayim," but before the person says "Amen," as this is the end of the brachah.

Question: How long do I have to answer Amen after hearing a brachah?

Answer: You should answer immediately, although if other people are still answering Amen you may answer immediately after them. If you hear a brachah and don't manage to respond right away but only a very short period of time has passed, you may still say Amen.

Interruptions Before Saying Amen

Question: If I hear a brachah and, before answering Amen, I said something unrelated, can I still answer Amen?

Answer: No, in such a case one may not say Amen, even if you are in the middle of your own prayers and didn't manage to pause in time. However, if other people are still responding Amen then you may also do so.

If someone hears two brachot at once, or one immediately after the other, they should respond, "Amen ve'Amen."

What to Think When Saying Amen

Question: What thoughts should I have in mind when answering Amen?

Answer: You should have in mind that the words of the brachah are true. If the brachah is one requesting something (such as the brachah in the Amidah prayer asking for Hashem to heal the sick), the person responding Amen should also have in mind that he prays for the brachah to be fulfilled.

When replying Amen to the brachot in the Kaddish prayer, you should have in mind that all the requests made for the revelation of Hashem in this world should be fulfilled.

Answering "Amen, Yehei Shemei Rabba..." to Kaddish may be done in a loud voice, but in general, Amen is not spoken any louder than the brachah itself.