Ask the Rabbi
Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo: When to Say It, and When to Refrain
Halachic Q&A with Rabbi Levi Y. New
Question:
Should I be saying Boruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo when hearing Kiddush from the Rabbi?
Answer:
Origins of the Custom
The phrase Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo — “Blessed is He and blessed is His Name” — is an expression of praise customarily recited upon hearing G-d’s Name (in a blessing).
Though the Talmud does not make mention of this exact phrasing, the inspiration behind it is found in the following Talmudic teaching: the Mishna describes how, in the Beit HaMikdash, when the Kohen Gadol pronounced the Divine Name as part of the Yom Kippur service, the people responded, “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto le’olam va’ed - blessed be the Name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever”. The Gemara derives this from the verse, “When I call out the Name of the L-rd, ascribe greatness to our G-d.” The Gemoro explains that “Moses is telling the Jewish people: When I mention the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, you give [Him] glory [by reciting words of praise]”.
The earliest recorded use of the exact phrase Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo appears in the Siddur HaRokeach (R. Elazar of Worms, Germany 1176–1238), which states that whenever G-d’s Name is heard, one should respond with this blessing. R. Asher ben Yechiel (Germany/Spain 1250–1327) writes similarly in the name of his father, and Sefer Charedim (R. Elazar Azkari of Tzfas, 1533–1600) likewise records this custom. This tradition was later codified in the Tur and Shulchan Aruch: “Upon every blessing that a man hears in any place, he says ‘Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo.’”
The Halachic Limitation
Despite its beauty, it’s important to remember that it is a custom that emerged in the post Talmudic era, and not part of the canonized prayer established by our Sages. As such, there are critical halachic limitations to when one should or should not recite Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo.
First; when one is at a point in prayer during which it is forbidden to make a mundane interruption, one may not recite Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo (even if they’re at a point where it is allowed to respond Amen).
Second; when hearing a blessing in order to fulfill one’s own obligation to recite that blessing, one is relying on the principle of shome’a ke’oneh - “one who listens is as if he recited”. In such cases, one must pay attention to the blessing in its entirety, whilst having in mind to fulfil their obligation through the one reciting the blessing.
As such, some Halachic authorities rule that if the listener wants to fulfil his obligation via another, he must behave as if he were the one reciting the blessing. Therefore, in the same way that the reader may not interrupt his blessing with Boruch Hu u’Voruch Shemo, the listener may not either. The Alter Rebbe goes further: such an interruption may even invalidate one’s fulfillment of the obligation, as it separates G-d’s Name from the continuation of the blessing formula established by the Sages. He concludes: ”One ought to caution the many individuals who err in this regard”.
When to Refrain
Based on this, one should not respond Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo when hearing a blessing through which they intend to fulfill their obligation to recite that blessing, including:
- Kiddush and Havdalah.
- Blessings on shofar, Megillah, Hallel, or other mitzvot.
- Blessings over food or fragrance when someone else recites them on your behalf.
In all these cases, the correct conduct is to listen in silence with kavanah (focused intent) and to respond only Amen at the blessing’s conclusion. In fact, paying attention to every word of the blessing is more important than responding Amen.
When to Say It
When you’ve already fulfilled your obligation to recite those blessings such as the Amidah now being repeated by the Chazzan, or when the blessing is not being recited on your behalf such as the blessings before and after an Aliyah — Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shemo may and should be said.
Practical Summary
- Say it for blessings you are not obligated to fulfill through the other’s recitation (most public blessings during services).
- Do not say it when you are fulfilling an obligation through listening.
- Do not say it if you are (studying Torah or) at a point in prayer when one is forbidden to make an interruption.
In the case of hearing Kiddush from the Rabbi, that will depend on whether you intend to fulfil your obligation for Kiddush through his recitation, or whether you intend to recite your own Kiddush.
Deeper Message
The practice teaches that devotion is not only in what we say, but in knowing when not to speak. At certain moments, halacha elevates silence into the highest form of praise — a discipline of the mind and heart as much as of the tongue.
