Answering Amen Silences the Mekatregim
והנה נצבה וגם אלמתי קמה והנה השדה בתוך אלמים מאלמים אנחנו והנה” (ז לז) “לאלמתי ותשתחוין אלמתיכם תסבינה
Harav Nosson Shapiro, the Megaleh Amukos, reveals that the root of Yosef Hatzaddik is in the sod of amen, as alluded to in the passuk said about Yosef (ibid 37:3): “הוא זקנים בן” – the final letter of each word comprises amen. The Megaleh Amukos adds that in light of this, the vision that he saw in his dream “vehinei anachnu me’almim alumim” – teaches us that when we want to silence the mekatregim so that they should be mute, אילמים, one should be careful in answering amen, because the angels created from answering amen fight the mekatregim and silence them. Therefore, קמה והנה אלמתי – that Yosef Hatzaddik, whose root is in the sod of answering amen, prevailed over them and silenced them.
Megaleh Amukos Vayeishev p. 43b and p. 48b
This goes in hand with what is brought in Seder Hadoros (Rabi Yochanan) that Rabi Yochanan was mehader in answering amen, and the Gemara (Brachos 20a) brings that Rabi Yochanan said of himself that it is fitting for the descendants of Yosef to be mehader with amen.
Artzos Hashalom Brachos 20a
I Am Asking for My Brothers
את ויאמר :תבקש מה לאמר האיש וישאלהו בשדה תעה והנה איש וימצאהו” (טז-טו לז) “רעים הם איפה לי נא הגידה מבקש אנכי אחי
Rav Yaakov ben Elimelech of Lizhensk explained: “And a man asked him what do you seek” – if a person asks you what the most worthy tefillah before Hashem is, “and he said I seek my brothers” – tell him that the best thing is to pray for our brethren Bnei Yisrael who are in dire straits and captivity.
The Rebbe Rav Leibush of Brezhan added that such a tefillah is more powerful On High, and even the mekatregim reluctantly answer amen to it, as alluded to in the words of the passuk: “Hagidah na li” – the words לי נא are numerically equivalent to amen.
Bais Yaakov p. 98; Imrei Yehudah [Brezhan]
