DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Shlomo Tawachi ben Emilia
" "

Dedicated By
His Family in Panama

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 702 KB)
Does One Answer “Amen” to a Beracha of Kaddish in the Middle of Pesukeh De’zimra?

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1839-1933), in Parashat Vayigash (10), writes that if a person hears a Beracha while he recites Pesukeh De’zimra, he should answer "Amen" to the Beracha. Even though generally one may not interrupt in the middle of Pesukeh De’zimra, one should interrupt to answer "Amen" to a Beracha. The Ben Ish Hai cites Rav Haim Vital (1543-1620) as reporting that this was the practice of the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572), to answer "Amen" to Berachot he heard while reciting Pesukeh De’zimra.

This applies throughout the Pesukeh De’zimra service. Whether one hears a Beracha during Ashreh, one of the "Haleluy-a" Psalms, "Vayebarech David" or "Vayosha," for example, he answers "Amen." It occasionally happens that as one recites Pesukeh De’zimra, he hears the person next to him, who arrived late for Shaharit, recite the Beracha over the Tallit or the Tefillin. Or, if one arrived late, he might be reciting Pesukeh De’zimra while the Hazan recites the Beracha of "Yoser Ha’me’orot," for example. In all these instances, one would answer "Amen" to the Beracha he hears, even though he is in the middle of Pesukeh De’zimra.

If a person hears Kaddish while reciting Pesukeh De’zimra, then he should answer the first five "Amen" responses, until and including the response of "Amen Yeheh Shemeh Rabba…Da’amiran Be’alma." He should not answer "Amen" to other parts of Kaddish ("Titkabal," "Yeheh Shelama" and "Al Yisrael"). It should be emphasized that whenever one answers "Amen Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" in Kaddish, he recites all twenty-eight words, through "Da’amiran Be’alma." Although the Shulhan Aruch rules that one should say only, "Amen Yeheh Shemeh Rabba…Yitbarach," our custom follows the practice of the Arizal, who held that one should continue the response through "Da’amiran Be’alma." This applies whenever one answers "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba," even in the middle of Pesukeh De’zimra.

Halacha requires beginning Ashreh immediately after the conclusion of Yehi Chebod. After one concludes "Ya’anenu Be’yom Kor’enu," he should immediately proceed to "Ashreh Yoshebeh Betecha," without any pause or interruption. Therefore, if a person is reciting Yehi Chebod and foresees that he will hear a Beracha or Kaddish upon concluding Yehi Chebod, he should pause in the middle of Yehi Chebod until he hears the Beracha and Kaddish, and then resume his recitation of Yehi Chebod. This way, he avoids having to answer "Amen" in between Yehi Chebod and Ashreh. If a person was compelled to answer "Amen" in between Yehi Chebod and Ashreh, then after answering "Amen" he should repeat the final three verses of Yehi Chebod and then immediately begin Ashreh, so he fulfills the requirement of juxtaposing Yehi Chebod with Ashreh.

Summary: It is forbidden to make any interruptions during Pesukeh De’zimra, but if one hears a Beracha during Pesukeh De’zimra, he should answer "Amen." If one hears Kaddish during Pesukeh De’zimra, he answers the first five "Amen" responses, until and including "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba…Be’alma." A person should try to avoid having to answer "Amen" to a Beracha or Kaddish in between the end of Yehi Chebod and the beginning of Ashreh. If one had to answer "Amen" at that point, he should repeat the final three verses of Yehi Chebod and then immediately begin Ashreh.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Proper Way for Kohanim to Position Their Hands and Fingers During Birkat Kohanim
The Proper Pronunciation of the Name of Hashem
The Importance of Learning Torah at Night
Performing the Misva of Shilu’ah Ha’ken with a Bird’s Nest in One’s Property
Reciting the Verse “Vihi No’am” Before Performing a Misva
Asking Questions To Your Rabbi
Touching a Torah Scroll with One’s Bare Hands
Kissing Somebody After He Received an Aliya
What Kind of Book or Scroll Should be Used for the Haftara Reading?
Shemitat Kesafim- Somebody Who Did Not Write a Prozbul Before the End of a Shemita Year
The Status of Willful Violators of Shemitat Kesafim
Rolling a Torah Scroll in its Case
Studying Torah in a Synagogue or Study Hall; Studying Audibly; Studying with a Partner or Group
The Reading of Parashat Masei at Mincha on Shabbat, Monday and Thursday
Earning a Livelihood - Basic Halachic Guidelines
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found