[Avodah] Rav Aviner on Amen Meals

[Rich, Joel]

"Amen Meals"
Q: What is Ha-Rav's opinion about "Amen Meals" (participants take
different types of food, recite a blessing before eating and those who
hear the blessings answer "Amen")?
A: This is a new creation. It is permissible to participate since they
are not doing anything inappropriate; they are reciting blessings and
saying "amen." Why do women do this? In order to increase merits for
themselves, for the sick, for young women to find mates, etc... But if
people want to increase merits they do not have to invent new venues.
The problem of increasing merit has always existed, and we have already
been told what to do: repent, pray and give tzedakah (prayers of the
High Holidays). One should pray, give the money one would spend on the
"Amen meal" to tzedakah and repent for things he is not doing well. Is
it worthwhile to participate in an "Amen meal"? It is preferable to
increase merits not through newly created paths but through
well-established and clear ones. There is, however, another aspect to
these meals: they are a social gathering. Some women are being
constricted at home by running the home and taking care of the children
and they need to get together with friends. Without friends they will
die, as it says in the Gemara: "friendship or death" (Ta'anit 23a).
Instead of bumping into friends at the supermarket and chatting, they
recite blessings and answer amen. This is fine, but if it is to increase
merits, Hashem already thought of this and gave us 613 mitzvot and we do
not have to create new things.
Q: What about women gathering to separate challah?
A: This is also a new creation. If one bakes and uses a certain amount
of flour there is a mitzvah to separate challah, but nowhere is it
written that people should gather together to do so. It is possible to
take that time and use it to fulfill other mitzvot - ancient creations.

KT
Joel Rich

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