In honor of the 404th yahrtzeit of the Rem"a MiPano, this coming Thursday 5 Av, we present a summary of a teshuvah that he wrote regarding the obligation to answer ninety amens a day. This teshuvah is printed in Shu"t HaRem"a MiPano (109) and the Magen Avraham (6 9) cites it as halachah. In his words, the Rem"a proves that the quota does not include amens answered to Kaddish, but rather one should answer 90 amens to brachos, and he derives based on this that in order to meet this quota, each one must be strict to hear Birchos Hashachar from the mispallelim in shul.
"Tzaddik" or "Tzedakah"
The Rama"k (Siddur Tefillah LeMoshe p. 59b) brings in the name of the Zohar that the quotas for holy things are alluded to in the word צדיק, which צ‘ אמנים, ד‘ קדושות, י קדישים וק‘ is an acronym for ברכות, because "one who does this is undoubtedly a tzaddik." The Rama"k adds that some say the quota of holy things is alluded to with the word צדקה and instead of 10 Kaddish, he lists 5 Chumshei Torah, that a person should learn from each day.
Although both versions obligate ninety amens a day, they are divided regarding the halachah of the amens that can accumulate to complete this quota:
The version that uses the word "tzaddik" includes only amens answered to brachos and not to Kaddish, because in this version, Kaddish has its own quota – 10 Kaddish. But the version where the quotas are alluded with the word "tzedakah" includes amens answered to Kaddish, because this version does not have a separate quota for Kaddish.
"Tzaddik" and Not "Tzedakah"
In light of this, the Rem"a MiPano discusses the question of which version should be used as a practical application of halachah: Is it the one that holds that the quotas are alluded to by "tzaddik" in which case the 90 amens have to be specifically for brachos, or is it the one where the quotas are alluded to in the word "tzedakah" and if so then answering amen to Kaddish joins the completion of the quota of 90 amens.
The Rem"a proves that the version that holds that the quota is alluded to in the word "צדיק" is the primary version, because the four quotas are things that everyone can do, and they are practical and accessible to all. That is in contrast to the version of "tzedakah" where in place of 10 Kaddish, the study of five Chumshei Torah is listed as something that needs to be done each day, which is not a task that every person can do, and only few can meet that standard.
As a result, the Rem"a derives that even though both versions are "parpara’os na’os, pleasant explanations, and both need to be reconciled" (and the Rema"k in his siddur wrote that both versions are true), still, the version of "tzaddik" is the main one, and as a result, one should be strict to meet the quotas stipulated by it. Therefore, one should answer 90 amens to brachos each day, aside for the amens answered to Kaddish.
(In the introduction of Harav Chaim Vital printed at the beginning of sefer Eitz Chaim, he brings in the name of the Arizal that one should complete the quotas of holy things as alluded to in the word "tzaddik.")
