Should one answer Amen when he hears another person completing a brocha of Shemoneh Esrei?

A person in shul should not daven Shemoneh Esrei out loud. Although davening out loud is beneficial for his kavanah, it may not come at the expense of disturbing other people. If someone in shul is davening out loud and one hears him completing a brocha, the poskim disagree about whether to answer Amen. Some say that one should not respond with Amen, since the person who said the brocha out loud is davening in an improper way. Some have a custom to daven out loud on Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur. The concern about disturbing others is mitigated in this case, since most people have machzorim (which would help them stay focused). Most poskim say that it is better not to follow this minhag.


סק"א ס"ב ס"ק י"א ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 21




Why is it preferable to daven in Lashon Kodesh?



Lashon Hakodesh is the preferred language for davening. Lashon Hakodesh contains many segulos and it is the language that was used by the Ribono Shel Olam when he spoke with his nevi’im. In addition, it was the language used by the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah when they instituted davening. One can be sure that when he davens with the exact terms that they used--even if he does not have the proper kavanos--his tefilos will be accepted. However, one who davens in any language is yotzei, as long as he understands what he is saying.


ס"ד ס"ק י"ג וי"ד ביה"ל ד"ה יכול




What are the pitfalls of davening in another language?


One of the practices of the Haskalah was to change the text of the davening from Lashon Kodesh into the local language. Their intentions were to cause Jews to forget their connection to Lashon Kodesh, which would in turn cause them to lose their connection to Eretz Yisroel and their yearning for Moshiach. Maskilim also began to omit the brochos of kibbutz galuyos and binyan Yerushalayim. The Achronim who lived at the time fought valiantly against their reforms and changes to the mesorah. From a halachic angle, they argued that davening in another language is only permissible occasionally. To change to another language permanently is forbidden.


ס"ק י"ג

  • Based on the requirement of preparation for davening, some poskim say that a chazan must daven his own quiet Shemoneh Esrei with the same nusach that he will use to recite Chazoras Hashatz. The rationale is that if he were to daven in his own nusach, he would not be fully prepared for Chazoras Hashatz. Others say that the concept of preparing for davening is to avoid making actual mistakes in the davening. Confusing nuschaos is not as consequential, since one is yotzei regardless of the nusach that he uses for davening.


  • A person must have proper kavanah throughout Shemoneh Esrei. Proper kavanah means understanding the meaning of the words. If it is difficult to keep one’s focus for the entire Shemoneh Esrei, one should focus at least on the first brocha of Avos. It is of primary importance to maintain one’s focus throughout the first brocha.


  • If, upon completing Avos, a person realized that he did not have kavanah, the poskim question the value of his finishing Shemoneh Esrei. If he will not be yotzei anyway, would the brochos he adds be brochos l’votalah? Some answer that he may finish Shemoneh Esrei, since a tefilla -- even if it lacks kavanah -- is still a tefilla






  • Is it permissible to sit next to someone who is davening?










  • Must a person stand up if someone comes to daven next to him?










  • May one walk in front of a person who is davening?
PLEASE NOTE:  The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
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