QUESTION: If I cannot hear the shliach tzibur reciting chazaras ha’shatz, but I hear others answering Amen, am I supposed to answer Amen?

ANSWER: The Gemara (Berachos 47a) states that it is forbidden to answer an Amen Yesoma (literally, an orphaned Amen). As noted in a previous Halacha Yomis, according to Shulchan Aruch (124:8) this refers to the following scenario: You want to fulfill your obligation with the beracha of the shliach tzibur. You know the shliach tzibur is saying the beracha, but you cannot hear him. Although the rest of the congregation is answering Amen, it is forbidden to answer with them, as this would be an Amen Yesoma.

The Mishnah Berurah (124:33) writes that since today we all daven Shemoneh Esrei by ourselves, and we do not fulfill our obligation with the repetition of the shliach tzibur, even if one answers Amen without having heard the beracha this would not be an Amen Yesoma – as long as he knows which beracha he is answering to. Although the Mishnah Berurah also cites a strict opinion, he writes that one may be lenient. Furthermore, the Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav 124:1) writes that if one has specific intent that one is not fulfilling their obligation with the beracha and only wants the mitzvah of answering Amen, then this would not 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.