Shaarei Gan Eden
Amen and Brachos in the Teachings of a Baal Hayahrtzeit
By Answering Amen, We Convey Emunah to the Next Generations
In one of his shmuessen, Rav Chaim Naftali Hertz Zelibanski spoke about the importance of being strict to answer amen, the importance of being mechanech to this and how significant it is for conveying emunah from generation to generation. He said:
The role of every Jew on this earth is to cleave to his emunah every single moment of his life, as it says (Chavakuk 2:4): “Vetzaddik b’emunaso yichyeh.” Such a level of emunah does not come on its own, and in order to achieve it, one must do deeds of emunah, like being careful to answer amen according to halachah.
Answering amen is so significant to conveying emunah, that the poskim obligated that young children who just learned to speak should be taught to answer amen, as the Rema rules (Orach Chaim 124 7): “And he should teach his young children to answer amen because as soon as the child answers amen he has a share in Olam Haba.”
When the children become accustomed already when they are very little, to answer amen after brachos regularly, then this practice will leave an impression of emunah on their young hearts for the rest of their lives.
Chinuch to answering amen when children are very young is, in a sense, in the hands of the mother, because usually, the children are around her during the day. This is included in the caution of the passuk (Mishlei 1:8): “V’al titosh Toras imecha.” (Notrei Amen Vol. I p. 40)
