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734. What’s in an “Amen”?

Someone who hears a brachah being recited declares, “Baruch Hu u’varuch Shemo” (Blessed is He and blessed is His Name) when Hashem’s name is mentioned at the beginning of a brachah, and affirms, “Amen” at its conclusion.

Answering baruch Hu u’varuch Shemo is a minhag (custom) and not a halachic requirement. Therefore, when a shliach tzibbur (prayer leader, colloquially called a “chazzan”) intones a brachah with Hashem’s name, a congregant engaged in a portion of private davening where they may not make a hefsek (interruption) does not answer with this phrase.

This minhag is primarily based on the pasuk (verse) in Ha’azinu: “Ki Shem Hashem ekra, havu godel l’Elokeinu” (When I call out the Name of Hashem, [you] ascribe greatness to our G-d)—the refrain of baruch Hu u’varuch Shemo having been adopted as the “answer” to the mention of Hashem’s name.

Another source is the teaching in Mishlei, “Zecher tzaddik l’vracha” (mention of a holy person should be for blessing)—when we speak of a righteous individual, we should bless him. If we attach an appellation to (albeit great) human beings, we should certainly offer tribute upon hearing the Name of Hashem Himself!

On the other hand, answering amen is a clear halachic obligation. A person is required to answer amen whether they want to be yotzei (fulfill a halachic obligation) with a particular brachah or not. (If the intention is to be yotzei, there should be no hefsek while the brachah is being recited, so baruch Hu uvaruch Shemo is not said.) 

It is proper to understand the meaning of amen when stating it. What does amen mean? It is at times an affirmation: “This [brachah] is the truth and I believe it!” This is the answer to brachos of hoda’ah (praise) to Hashem. However, when replying amen to a bakashah (request), such as when answering Kaddish, the amen is one of faith and expectation: “I hope and wish that it be realized and fulfilled speedily.”  Brachos recited by the shliach tzibbur that contain both hoda’ah and bakashah—all the middle brachos of Shemonah Esreh, the brachah of Hamachazir Sh’chinaso l’tzion and the concluding brachah of Hamevarech es Amo Yisroel bashalom—should preferably be answered with both meanings of amen in mind.