QUESTION: I finished reciting a beracha at the same time as the shliach tzibur. Am I supposed to answer Amen to his beracha?

ANSWER: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 51:2) writes that if one finished reciting the beracha of Baruch She’amar before the shliach tzibur, he may answer Amen to the beracha of the shliach tzibur. This implies that if one finished simultaneously with the shliach tzibur, he may not answer Amen. The Magen Avrohom (51:2) explains that one may not respond Amen if they finished reciting the beracha together with the shliach tzibur because this would give the appearance that one is reciting Amen on their own beracha. Even though this is not their intention, it is forbidden. However, the Magen Avrohom writes that if you and the shliach tzibur finished two different berachos at the same time, then you may answer Amen. Also, if one finishes Yishtabach, the beracha at the conclusion of Hallel, or Shomer Yisroel La’ad at the same time as the Shliach Tzibur, one may answer Amen. This is because there are opinions that maintain that one must always recite Amen at the conclusion of these berachos, since they conclude a set.

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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.