Responses to Devarim Shebikdushah and Other Berachos

Rabbi Nosson Neustadt

Courtesy of Ohr Olam Mishnah Berurah

II. Responses to Devarim Shebikdushah

Some devarim shebekudashah (matters of sanctity) may be answered even when in the middle of a passage (be’emtza haperek) of Kerias Shema or its berachos (and certainly when one is at a juncture of bein haperakim). These include the following:

  1. Kaddish: One responds Amen Yehei Shemeih Rabbah (until Olmaya), and Amen to Da’amiran Be’alma.30
  2. Barchu: One responds to the Barchu said at the beginning of Birchos Kerias Shema, as well as to the Barchu said by one receiving an aliyah.31
  3. Chazaras Hashatz: One answers Amen to the berachos of Hakel Hakadosh and Shomeia Tefillah, only.32 One also responds to Modim by saying the words Modim Anachnu Lach.33
  4. Kedushah: One responds Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh etc. and Baruch Kevod etc.34 However, one should pause and remain silent while the other responses are being said.35
  5. Birkas Kohanim: One answers Amen at the end of each verse.36

In addition to these responses permitted be’emtza haperek, one who is at a juncture of bein haperkaim may also answer Amen to a berachah that he hears.37 One may not, however, say Baruch Hu U’varuch Shemo upon hearing Hashem’s Name mentioned within the berachah.38 Furthermore, those responses of Kaddish and Kedushah other than those permitted to answer while be’emtza haperek may also not be said when bein haperakim.39 When hearing Kedushah at this point, one should pause and remain silent while the other responses are being said.

  1. When interrupting Kerias Shema or its berachos to respond to these devarim shebekudashah, it is best for one to complete the pasuk or sentence he is reciting, or at least the phrase he is saying within the sentence (even without completing the entire sentence), before answering. If this is not possible, he should still respond to the davar shebekudashah, and then go back to the beginning of the pasuk or sentence.40
  2. One may not interrupt even for devarim shebekudashah after saying the words Baruch atah Hashem under any circumstance, as doing so breaks the juxtaposition between the rest of the berachah and Hashem’s Name.41
  3. Responding to devarim shebekudashah is obligatory. Thus, under circumstances where one is permitted to interrupt his recitation of Kerias Shema or its berachos, he must do so.42

III. Other Berachos

  1. Should one hear thunder or see lighting while reciting Kerias Shema or its berachos, the appropriate berachos43 (which must be said within a toch kedei dibbur timespan44 of experiencing the thunder or lightning45) may be recited at a juncture of bein haperakim, and may not be recited when be’emtza haperek.46
  2. Asher Yatzar may not be recited any time during Kerias Shema or its berachos.47 It should be recited after Shemoneh Esrei.

30 Shulchan Aruch 66:3, with Mishnah Berurah 17.

31 Shulchan Aruch 66:3, with Mishnah Berurah 18.

32 Rema 66:3.

33 Shulchan Aruch 66, with Mishnah Berurah 20.

34 Shulchan Aruch 66, with Mishnah Berurah 17.

35 Chayei Adam 20:4. Note, though, that this is unnecessary during the other responses of Kaddish, for example Berich Hu, and the other answers of Amen (Ishei Yisrael 19, footnote 17, citing R’ Chaim Kanievsky).

36 Igros Moshe, Orach Chaim IV:21:2.

37 Mishnah Berurah 66:23.

38 Mishnah Berurah 124:21.

39 Mishnah Berurah 66:17.

40 Mishnah Berurah 66:10.

41 Beiur Halachah 66:3, s.v. Lekaddish.

42 R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, cited in Ishei Yisrael 19, footnote 9; R’ Chaim Kanievsky, cited ad loc. footnote 17. Cf. Maharil Diskin and other sources cited in ibid. footnote 17, who disagree.

43 See 227:1.

44 Which is the amount of time it takes to say the three words of shalom alecha, rebbi (Mishnah Berurah 206:12).

45 Mishnah Berurah 227:12.

46 Chayei Adam 20:4. Beis Baruch ad loc. 28 understands this ruling to be the conclusion of Mishnah Berurah 66:19.

47 Mishnah Berurah 66:23.