Chinuch of Young Children to Answer Amen
(כ מב) “כן ויעשו תמותו ולא דבריכם ויאמנו אלי תביאו הקטן אחיכם ואת”
Chazal place a special emphasis on being mechanech young children to answer amen, as the Gemara (Sanhedrin 110b) says: “From when does a child receive Olam Haba? It is said in the name of Rabi Meir: From when he says amen, as it says (Yeshayah 26:2): ‘Pischu she’arim veyavo goy tzaddik shomer emunim’ – do not read it ‘shomer emunim’ but rather ‘she’omer amen.’” As a result, the Rem”a rules (Orach Chaim 124 7): “And he should teach his young children to answer amen because as soon as a baby answers amen he has a share in Olam Haba.”
Harav Yehosef of Kosson derived an allusion to this halachah from the words of this passuk: “And your little brother bring to me” – in what merit does the “kattan” come to Olam Haba? In the merit of “ויאמנו דבריכם” – that they teach him to answer amen.
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