Spending time with Reb Amnon Sklar was a truly uplifting experience. His face lights up as he describes the lofty virtues of answering amen. It is evident that answering amen is the source of his vitality. There are those who have said that amen is numerically equivalent to יהלום a diamond, and indeed, spending time with Reb Amnon illustrates this. Just like a diamond dealer knows how to appreciate every diamond that lands up in his hands, likewise Reb Amnon knows how to appreciate every single amen, and is always looking for opportunities to merit them.
Even before we begin to speak, he looked at me and said: “You should know, that I see this actual conversation as a big zechus. Our goal is to arouse the tzibbur to seek after and take advantage of every opportunity to answer amen. Regarding such a conversation, we can advise the words of the passuk (Malachi 3:16): “Az nidberu yirei Hashem” – as a result of these words strengthening the answering of amen, undoubtedly the “yirei Hashem” will increase, and they will be strict to answer amen according to halachah.”
I’ll begin with an unusual question. ‘Amnon’ is a rather rare name in our circles. Who are you named for?
“Truth to be told, I do not know! I imagine the source is Rav Amnon of Mainz, who composed Unesaneh Tokef, and who was killed al Kiddush Hashem. The well-known description appears in the machzorim, how he took upon himself terrible suffering for the sake of his faith, and it definitely stirs the heart of every Yid and illustrates the secret of our nation’s survival.
But we have to know that even when we do merit to answer amen, we are fulfilling the mitzvah of “Venikdashti besoch Bnei Yisrael” (Vayikra 22:32), that one who answers amen declares in public that Hashem is the ‘K-l Melech ne’eman.’ Likewise, the word amen expresses mesirus nefesh, as you have brought a number of times in your pamphlets, that amen is an acronym for אני מוסר נפשי. It is possible that because of this, the word “amen” is included in the name of the person who became a paragon of mesirus nefesh and Kiddush Hashem – Rav Amnon of Mainz.”
In light of your words, I think that the question of the source of your dedication to answering amen is superfluous. And yet, I’ll ask what brought you to serve as a gabbai amen and to stand in shul each morning to answer amen to the Birchos Hashachar of mispallelim?
“I learned it from a big Rebbi,” Reb Amnon recalls nostalgically. “It was many years ago, when my oldest daughter, who today baruch Hashem is a mother of two daughters, was born. We were in Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital in Bnei Brak and a problem arose. It was three in the morning and I decided to go to the home of Rav Chaim Kanievsky for a brachah. I knocked lightly at the door. The Rebbetzin opened right away and motioned for me to come in and wait. It was known that Reb Chaim was strict to recite Birchos Hashachar bechvarusa each day with the Rebbetzin. First, the Rebbetzin would say the brachos and Rav Chaim would answer amen, and when she finished, Reb Chaim would say the brachos and the Rebbetzin would answer amen.
That same day, I came in just as the Rebbetzin had finished making her brachos. In awe, I stood on the side in the dining room and watched Rav Chaim recite Birchos Hashachar, one brachah after another, and the Rebbetzin answered amen after him. It moved me greatly. And at that moment I decided that this was going to be my ‘project’ as well.”
Could you describe how it works each day in your shul, how you bring the mispallelim to recite Birchos Hashachar for you?
“In our shul one does not need to turn to the mispallelim. Each one of them knows that when I welcome them with a ‘good morning’ it’s also a reminder to recite Birchos Hashachar for me and give me the merit of answering amen. The custom of reciting Birchos Hashachar bechavrusa plays a significant role in our beis medrash, and sometimes the chazzan is delayed a few minutes, even though it’s time to daven, so that he can allow the last of the mispallelim to recite Birchos Hashachar bechavrusa before davening.”
Why then do we see people who are lax about answering amen?
“First of all, I don’t think the word should be “lax.” Klal Yisrael is not lax about answering amen. It’s clear that people do not fully internalize the power of answering amen. People think that in order to effect a yeshuah, they need to do some type of groundbreaking action, like going to the Kosel for forty days in a row, or at least saying all of sefer Tehillim in one sitting. But from the words of Chazal, especially the sefer Hazohar, we learn that it is possible to effect yeshuos easily – by being strict to answer amen. I appeal to every Jew to pay attention that through an easy and small action, he can effect a big yeshuah. Answering amen is a small act that has tremendous results.”
Reb Amnon then adds: “As is known, one should have in mind the amen based on the content of the brachah. Therefore, when answering amen to brachos of praise and gratitude, we should have in mind, ‘emes,’ and in brachos that also have a request, we should have in mind ‘may this request be fulfilled.’ But the Chayei Adam (6 1) writes that one who answers amen must also have in mind that he is joining the request of the mevarech that the Name of Hashem should be blessed. I think that when we answer amen to each and every brachah with this kavanah, it is a tremendous Kiddush Hashem that brings great yeshuos.”
