1. What does “Amen” Mean? 1 Gemara Shavuos - 36a ...ןמא אנינח יברב יסוי יבר רמא םירבד תנמאה וב ,םירבד תלבק וב R’ Yossi the son of R’ Chanina said : Amen means … affirming the facts and praying that they will come true. “It’s just taking a Tosfos - Shabbos 119b 2 moment ןמאנ ךלמ לק אנינח ר״א to connect ןמא רמואש העשב וב רהרהל ךירצ Rav Chanina said: [Amen stands for] to G-d, and Kel Melech Ne’eman (G-d the Faithful King) and one is you see obligated to think this when he answers Amen. such crazy 3 Maharal - Shabbos 119b וינפל דבועש ימל בוט רכש םלשל ןמאנ אוה יכ miracles.” He [Hashem] is trustworthy to pay the reward to one who serves before him. 4 Gemara Brachos - 53 b Say it LOUD! ךרבמה ןמ רתוי ןמא הנועה לודג רמוא יסוי ׳ר R’ Yossi said : The one who answers Amen is greater than the Say it PROUD! - one who makes the bracha !
What does “Amen” Mean? Rav Shlomo Elyashiv (1841-1926) was the Summary grandfather of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, the Summary: serve Him. world famous gadol hador who passed away in The Gemara teaches us that Amen has 2 2012. He was also well known in his own right meanings. It is both an affirmation of what Biography: The Gemara teaches us that Amen has two The Gemara also tells us that the one who and was considered one of the greatest Mekub- was said, and a prayer that it comes true. We meanings. It is both an affirmation of what was says Amen is greater than the person who Rabbi Yehudah Loew, known as the Maharal of Prague, was born around the year 1520. He alim of his time. He is said to have merited to be should try and have both of these thoughts is famous as the leader of the Jewish said, and a prayer that it should come true. We made the bracha! This is because the Amen taught by Eliyahu Hanavi. community in Prague, which was the main in mind whenever we say Amen. center of central European Jewry at the time. should try and have both of these thoughts in does two things; it affirms that which was Tosfos tells us that another thing you should The Maharal became famous among non-Jews mind whenever we say Amen. said, and it is a prayer. The bracha, on the have in mind when saying Amen, is “Kel for his knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. Emperor Rudolph II paid him Melech Ne’eman” Hashem is the faithful king. Tosfos tells us that another thing we should other hand, was only the affirmation, not frequent visits to discuss both politics and science. The Maharal explains that this is a praise of have in mind when saying Amen is “Kel Melech the prayer! According to many sources he created a Golem Hashem. He is faithful in paying the reward (a figure) out of clay which he brought to life Ne’eman;” Hashem is the faithful King. The with the use of Hashem’s holy name. The of those who serve him. Maharal used the Golem to avert many Maharal explains that this is a praise of The Gemara also tells us that the one who calamities and blood libels in Prague. When the Golem had completed his mission, the Maharal Hashem. He is faithful in rewarding those who says Amen is greater than the person who laid it away in the attic of the Prague Synagogue. made the bracha! This is because the Amen does 2 things, it affirms that which was said, and it is a prayer. The bracha on the other hand was only the affirmation, not the prayer!
2. The Power of Amen 3 1 Rokeach Gemara Sanhedrin - 110 b ךל רמול ךאלמ אירטמיג ןמא ...אבה םלועל אב יתמיאמ ןטק התוא לדגמו רמוש היה ךאלמש ריאמ יבר םושמ אנת Amen is the same Gematria as malach (91) ןמא רמאיש העשמ This teaches you that a malach protected From when does a child get access to and raised her [ Esther. ] “You'll create Olam Haba ? … Rebbi Meir taught : amen! From when he answers Amen . a spiritual force that will 4 Zohar - Vayikra advocate on ול ןיערוק וחכ לכב ןמא הנועה לכ 2 your behalf Minchat Eliyahu – 32 הנש םיעבש לש וניד רזג היה התונטקמ דימ קידצה יכדרמ and help Anyone who answers Amen with all his ןמא תיינעב רתסאל הדמלמ generate all “Koach,” has any decrees against him torn Mordechai HaTzadik taught Esther to up for the next seventy years. the blessings say Amen at a young age. you’re waiting for.” 5 How many Zohar - Vayeilech םמצע םירמוש הטמל לארשישכו “Amens” do you ,ךירצש ומכ םבל ןיוכלו ןמא תונעל think you say in הלעמל םיחותפ תוכרב יחתפ המכ a day? And when the Jews below are careful to answer Amen , and to have the right Kavanos , many doors of blessings open above !
The Power of Amen Rav Shlomo Elyashiv (1841-1926) was the Summary grandfather of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, the world famous gadol hador who passed away in Summary: The Gemara teaches us that Amen has 2 angels, seemingly in the merit of saying 2012. He was also well known in his own right meanings. It is both an affirmation of what Biographies: Amen, since Amen has the same numerical The Gemara tells us that Amen is a powerful and was considered one of the greatest Mekub- was said, and a prayer that it comes true. We Rav Eliyahu Cohen (1659-1729) from Izmir, value as malach – angel (91). thing. It is the first ticket you can get into Turkey, is best known for his mussar work, alim of his time. He is said to have merited to be should try and have both of these thoughts the Shevet Mussar. He wrote over thirty The Zohar teaches us that if you say Olam Habah, since it is based on belief in taught by Eliyahu Hanavi. in mind whenever we say Amen. books, including the Me’il Tzedakah, where he, as one of the wealthier members of the Amen with all your might, both mental and Hashem. That is why we try to teach Amen to Tosfos tells us that another thing you should community, strongly encourages others to give charity. The sefer Minchat Eliyahu is a have in mind when saying Amen, is “Kel young children. The Minchat Eliyahu explains physical, then any bad decree against you is compilation of his drashos. Melech Ne’eman” Hashem is the faithful king. torn up. The Zohar also teaches us about a that Mordechai of the Purim Story did just Rav Elazar of Worms (1170-1236) was known The Maharal explains that this is a praise of as the Rokeach, alluding to his most famous few amazing brachos that saying Amen can that and taught Esther from a young age to work, Sefer Rokeach. He was a prolific writer, Hashem. He is faithful in paying the reward authoring some fifty-five volumes on both earn for us. Amen opens gates of blessing, say Amen. This fits very well with the of those who serve him. Halacha and Kabbalah, in his short sixty-six years. He also composed tens of poems. He brings good to all of the worlds, and The Gemara also tells us that the one who Rokeach’s commentary. He explains that lived in Germany all his life. says Amen is greater than the person who Esther was protected from a young age by helps our prayers be answered! made the bracha! This is because the Amen does 2 things, it affirms that which was said, and it is a prayer. The bracha on the other hand was only the affirmation, not the prayer!
carry a tally clicker around for a day and count how many amens you can say! Once a day, for the next week, try to answer Teach someone else amen to a bracha, and about the power of really think hard about Amen. When you are the 2 concepts in an about to make a Amen, the affirmation Bracha, ask someone to and the prayer. answer Amen, and explain to them why it is so special.
Challenge Yourself! 1) List three things to have in mind when you say Amen. 2) Who is greater, the person who makes the bracha or the one who answers Amen? 3) Why is Amen a ticket into Olam Haba? 4) What is the gematria of Amen? 5) If you say Amen, how many years of bad decrees get torn up? How do you need to say Amen for this to work?
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