Responding to the Mezamen

Q. I am reciting Birkas Hamazon together with the mezamen, as recommended by the Shulchan Aruch (OC 183:7). Should I answer amen when the mezamen concludes each bracha? What about responding to other barachos?

A. When two people complete the same bracha simultaneously, neither one may respond amen to the other party, as it will appear as if the individual is saying amen to his own bracha, which is forbidden. For this reason, the Rama (OC187:7) recommends finishing the end of each brocha of Birkas Hamazon before the mezamen so that one may answer Amen to the mezamen’s beracha. However, the Shulchan Aruch states that the participants should recite the entire bracha with the mezamen, including the end of each bracha. Clearly, according to the Shulchan Aruch, one may not conclude with amen. Ashkenazim, who typically follow the Rama, should finish the bracha before the mezamen and answer amen, while Sephardim who abide by the Shulchan Aruch should not answer amen.

The above relates to answering amen to the bracha of the mezamen. What is the halacha about answering amen to the brochos of Birkhas Hamazon of the other participants, or for that matter, answering amen to any person’s bracha?

The Orchos Chaim, quoted by the Shulchan Aruch (OC 183:8), says that since Birkas Hamazon resembles Shmoneh Esrei in that both must be said in one place, it is treated like Tefillah in other respects as well, and one may not interrupt Birkas Hamazon to respond to another person’s greeting.

Later poskim debate to what extent did the Orchos Chaim intend to equate Birkas Hamazon to Tefillah. The Kaf Hachaim (OC 183:45) maintains that Birkas Hamazon is identical to tefillah, and, with the exception of responding amen to the mazamen, absolutely no interruptions are allowed during benching. (In fact, Rav Ovadya Yosef {Yechaveh Daas vol. 1, :11:4} questions why the Rama allows responding amen to the mezamen.) However, the Chazon Ish (OC 28:3) claims that while the Orchos Chaim prohibited greeting others during benchting, Birkas Hamozon is not identical to tefillah; one may answer amen to any bracha between the berachos of Birkas Hamozon, and Amen yehei shmei rabba, Kedusha and Boruch hu even in the middle of a baracha of benching.

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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.