Brachos 47- Amen, Who is an Am Haaretz, Using 9 for Minyan, Using 2 for Zimun, Freeing Slaves - a podcast by Eran Netkin

1. Replying amein is part of the berachah procedure
After reciting hamotzi, the one who made the berachah is not permitted to break the bread until
the listeners finish saying amein. (The Gemara had earlier taught that the berachah must be
finished before the bread is broken; here it teaches that replying amein is considered part of the
berachah procedure [Rashi]).
2. Incorrect ways to say Amein
A Baraisa lists the incorrect ways to respond amein, with Ben Azzai warning of the consequences
for doing so:
a. חטופה אמן – Amein Chatufah (snatched): The aleph is pronounced with a sheva instead of a
kamatz gadol. One who does this will have his days snatched away.
b. קטופה אמן – Amein Ketufah (abbreviated): The nun at the end is not enunciated clearly, so
that it sounds like “Amei.” One who does this will have his days abbreviated.
c. יתומה אמן – An orphaned amein: One says amein without hearing the berachah. Doing this
will cause one’s children to be orphaned.
d. מפיו ברכה יזרוק לא – One should not throw the blessing from his mouth, i.e. not say it hastily.
- Ben Azzai concludes that whoever is lengthy with his amein (meaning he pronounces it
properly) will merit length of days and years.
3. Who is considered an am haaretz?
A Baraisa lists a number of opinions regarding who is considered an am haaretz:
- R’ Eliezer – Anyone who does not recite Shema in the morning and evening.
- R’ Yehoshua – Anyone who does not put on tefillin.
- Ben Azzai – Anyone who does not wear tzitzis.
- R’ Nassan – Anyone who does not have a mezuzah on his door’s entrance.
- R’ Nassan bar Yosef – Anyone who has sons and does not raise them to learn Torah.
- Others – One who did not engage in group discussions to discern the underlying reasons and
applications of the Chumash and Mishnah (Rashi).
Siman – Maze
The only way for the contestants to escape the maze while being chased by a group of non-tzitzis
wearing amei haaretz, was for everybody to finish pronouncing a proper amein and then break bread.

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