Siman - Berachos Daf 47
- Amein is part of the berachah procedure
After reciting hamotzi, the one who made the berachah is not permitted to break the bread until the listeners finish saying amein. (The Gemara had earlier taught that the berachah must be finished before the bread is broken; here it teaches that replying amein is considered part of the berachah procedure [Rashi]).
- Incorrect ways to say amein
A Baraisa lists the incorrect ways to respond amein, with Ben Azzai warning of the consequences for doing so:
a.אמן חטופה – Amein Chatufah (snatched): The aleph is pronounced with a sheva instead of a kamatz gadol. One who does this will have his days snatched away.
b.אמן קטופה – Amein Ketufah (abbreviated): The nun at the end is not enunciated clearly, so that it sounds like “Amei.” One who does this will have his days abbreviated.
c.אמן יתומה – An orphaned amein: One says amein without hearing the berachah. Doing this will cause one’s children to be orphaned.
d.לא יזרוק ברכה מפיו – One should not throw the blessing from his mouth, i.e. not say it hastily.
-Ben Azzai concludes that whoever is lengthy with his amein (meaning he pronounces it properly) will merit length of days and years.
- Who is considered an am haaretz?
A Baraisa lists a number of opinions regarding who is considered an am haaretz:
-R’ Eliezer – Anyone who does not recite Shema in the morning and evening.
-R’ Yehoshua – Anyone who does not put on tefillin.
-Ben Azzai – Anyone who does not wear tzitzis.
-R’ Nassan – Anyone who does not have a mezuzah on his door’s entrance.
-R’ Nassan bar Yosef – Anyone who has sons and does not raise them to learn Torah.
-Others – One who did not engage in group discussions to discern the underlying reasons and applications of the Chumash and Mishnah (Rashi).
