QUESTION: What is an Amen Yesoma?

ANSWER: The Gemara (Berachos 47a) states that it is forbidden to answer an Amen Yesoma (literally, an “orphaned Amen”). Rishonim give three explanations as to what an Amen Yesoma is.

According to Shulchan Aruch (124:8), this refers to the following scenario: You want to fulfill your obligation with a beracha of the shliach tzibur. You know when the shliach tzibur will be saying this beracha, but you cannot hear him while he says it. Although the rest of the congregation is answering Amen on this very beracha, it is forbidden to answer with them, as this would be an Amen Yesoma.

The Rema offers two more explanations, one from the Tur and one from the Abudraham:

According to the Tur, this refers to one who answers Amen but does not know what beracha he is answering to. Even though he is not obligated in this beracha, he may not answer Amen, since he does not know what beracha is being said.

According to the Abudraham, this refers to one who delays answering Amen. The Mishnah Berurah writes that one can still answer Amen within the timeframe of “toch k’dei dibur” (time it takes to say Shalom Alecha Rebbe or Shalom Alecha Rebbe U’mori), but if one waits longer than this, it would be an Amen Yesoma.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.