Salvation Comes From Answering Amen
A Creative Reading
The Talmud in Sanhedrin (110b) asks at what point a person can earn a place in the Next World. Rabbi Meir answers, “From the moment that he says amen.” This is based on a creative interpretation of Isaiah 26:2, “Open the gates so that the righteous nation that keeps the faith may enter.” Rabbi Meir interprets the words “shomer emunim” (that keeps the faith) as “she’omeir amen” (that says amen). Based on this novel reading, we see that the righteous nation that says amen is the one that enters the gates. [Siman 11] In tractate Shabbos (119b), Resh Lakish interprets this verse the same way, concluding from it that one should therefore answer amen with all of his might. [Siman 12]
We are told in Devarim Rabbah (7:1) that there is nothing that pleases God more than the amen answered by the Jews. Rabbi Yudan says that one who responds with amen in this world will merit to respond with amen in the Next World. [Siman 13]
Also on Shabbos 119b, the Gemara asks the significance of amen; Rabbi Chanina replies that it stands for Ayl Melech Ne’eman, God is a faithful King. Tosfos there add that, while answering amen, one should have in mind and focus on the fact that God is a faithful King. [Siman 14] (Literally, amen comes from the word emunah, meaning faith. Responding amen is our way of expressing belief in the praise of God that we heard recited.)
Rabbi Yishmael and the Angel
In a work called Pirkei Merkava (Spain, 14th-15th century), Rabbi Yishmael relates how an angel brought him into the innermost chambers and showed him a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. Rabbi Yishmael asked for whom these calamities were intended and the angel responded that they were meant for the Jews.
“Could the Jews possibly survive all these tragedies?” Rabbi Yishmael exclaimed.
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you different decrees,” the angel replied.
When Rabbi Yishmael returned the next day, the angel showed him a series of decrees that were indeed different: they were even worse than the first batch! There was murder, captivity, invading forces and more.
“The Jews certainly can’t survive all this!” Rabbi Yishmael lamented.
“Every day, decrees even harsher than these are issued,” the angel informed him, “but when the Jews enter their shuls and respond amen yehei shmei rabbah, such decrees are not permitted to leave this chamber.” [Siman 15]
All the Reward You Need
Rabbi Wildman cites the midrashic work Aggadas Bereishis (79) on Shir HsShirim 4:3, “your desert is beautiful.” If our deserts are beautiful, how much more so our habitations must be! Unlearned people assume that “deserts” must refer to places where no fruit grows. Nevertheless, these people go to shul and praise God as the Creator of the celestial lights and as the One Who revives the dead. When the simple people respond amen to these brachos, they affirm their belief that created the universe and restores the deceased. Even if this is all the merit they ever earn, it’s sufficient for them to gain entrance to the Next World. This is why Isaiah praises God saying, “Hashem, You are my God; I will extol Your Name” (Isaiah 25:1): even if we have no merits beyond our praises of God, there would be enough reward for us.
The verse continues, “for You have performed a wonder, even counsels of old, in true faithfulness (‘omen’ in Hebrew, understood here as ‘for answering amen’).” One might expect the Jews to earn reward for keeping mitzvos like Shabbos but not for answering amen; this verse tells us otherwise. This is why it’s good to praise God: He doesn’t let any of our reward be lost, no matter how small. He even rewards us just for saying amen! [Siman 16]
Faithfully Responding Amen
Midrash Tehillim (31) cites Psalms 31:24, “Hashem guards the faithful” This is “emunim” in Hebrew, understood as those who faithfully respond amen. What does it mean to faithfully respond amen? People praise God for such things as reviving the dead and redeeming Israel from exile even though they have never seen Him do such things. By answering amen to such brachos, the people are expressing their faith in God that He will keep these promises. For this display of faith, He guards them. [Siman 17]
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