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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>From: "Shlomo Pick" <A
href="mailto:picksh@mail.biu.ac.il">picksh@mail.biu.ac.il</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>>I believe that is also new [or new-ish] [--TK]<BR><BR>>>
Actually the custom to answer amen is quite old, recorded in the bei yosef to
the tur OH, section 6, found in the SH OH 6:4, agree to by the posekim, see
shulkhan aruch harav and aruch hashulkhan ad loc.
<<<BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
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<DIV>We were not discussing the general concept of answering amen to a bracha,
which is indeed very old, as you say.</DIV>
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<DIV>We were talking about the new-fangled custom of making a
magical fetish out of "Amen" -- putting more stress on the amen than on the
bracha -- having "amen parties" and saying brachos out loud on purpose on every
possible occasion, so that others can respond amen loudly and often -- all with
the goal of achieving some kind of magical benefit, be it a refuah sheleimah, a
shidduch, a child for an infertile couple or whatever.</DIV><FONT
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></FONT><B><FONT color=#0000ff>--Toby
Katz<BR>==========<BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B>--------------------</FONT></DIV>
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