While amen is just one small word with three letters, it contains a tremendous power to open the gates of abundance and brachah with no limits. The Mishnah in Avos that we read this week (4:20) can be applied to amen, as it says: “Do not look at a vessel, but rather, at what is in it.”
Of the many sources for this, it is enough for us to quote a short passage from the Shelah Hakadosh (Maseches Tamid 80): “And someone who has kavanah on every brachah that emerges from the mevarech, and he answers amen with kavanah according to halachah...influences an abundance of goodness for all the worlds, and opens the High Source, the source of Mayim Chaim, like one who opens a wellspring to provide water to all that need watering...”
Hence, easily, without any exertion or special investment, each one of us can open the gates of abundance, goodness and brachah, for himself, his family, and all of Klal Yisrael. All he has to do is listen to brachos and answer amen with kavanah.
This is also alluded to in the words of the Navi Yeshayah ”ארובות ממרום נפתחו“ :)24:18( – the windows from Above have been opened – which is an acronym for אמן. We can say that this is also evident from the famous passuk in the prophecy of Yeshayah (26:2): “Pischu she’arim veyavo goy tzaddik shomer emunim,” of which Chazal explain (Shabbos 119b) “Do not read it שמר אמנים but ” The.שאומרים אמן ratherpassuk says “pischu she’arim” because it refers also to the gates of blessing, that are opened for those who say amen.
I was compelled this week to write about this subject, following something beautiful that a friend showed me in sefer Tiferes Shlomo on this parashah, from the Torah of Harav Shlomo Hakohein of Radomsk. In response to the claims of the mis’onenim, Moshe Rabbeinu said (Bamidbar 11:12): “Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that You say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as the nurse carries the suckling,’ to the Land You promised their forefathers?”
Simply, the explanation of the words “ka’asher yisa ha’omen es hayonek” is that like a father carries his young child. But the Tiferes Shlomo explains this passuk כאשר ישא האמן to mean את הינק– that by answering amen “we suckle from Above all the good hashpa’os for Bnei Yisrael.”
Dear Readers! Open the gates! The key to the abundance of brachah in ruchniyus and gashmiyus is in our hands! Let us be strict to answer amen, and begin our days by saying Birchos Hashachar together, and we will be showered with endless blessings from On High.
Good Shabbos
Yaakov Dov Marmurstein
