QUESTION: Why does the Chazan sometimes say V’imru Amen and sometimes V’nomar Amen?

ANSWER: The Mishnah Berurah (189:5) explains the difference between V’imru Amen and V’nomar Amen as follows: V’imru Amen is a command. When we praise Hashem and pray for the Jewish people, those who are listening are obligated to respond Amen, and therefore the Chazan says: imru Amen (say Amen!). For example, at the end of Kadish, the Chazan says, “Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu ve’al kol Yisrael” (May He bring peace upon us and the entire Jewish people), and then commands the congregation to answer Amen – V’imru Amen! However, when we give a blessing to another Jew, we cannot command those who are listening to answer Amen, but we can request that they do so. We then use the phrase v’nomar Amen (let us say Amen). For example, at the end of birkas hamazon, we offer a blessing to the host, and say “Harachaman hu yevarech es baal habayis…” (May the Merciful One bless the host). There, where a command to respond Amen is inappropriate, the proper ending is v’nomar Amen.

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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.