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From
<a href="http://revach.net/article.php?id=2181" eudora="autourl">
http://revach.net/article.php?id=2181</a><br><br>
<font size=3>Rav Shlomo Zalman says that hearing something through an
electronic device such as loudspeaker or telephone is not considered
hearing in Halacha. The reason is that you are not hearing a
person’s voice rather you are listening to an electronic simulation of
it. Technically you cannot be yotzei any bracha or even answer
amen.<br><br>
If so during large gatherings where a microphone is used by the Chazan,
how could people answer amen? Rav Shlomo Zalman explains that the
shul in Alexandria, Mitzrayim was so large that people could not hear the
Chazan. They set up a flag system where people would answer upon
seeing the different flags being waived and this way would be able to
participate in the tefila and they answered amen even if they didn’t
actually hear.<br><br>
Similarly he says if you are standing in a minyan and cannot hear the
chazzan, but only know that amen is being said because you hear it on the
speaker system, then you may answer amen together with the Tzibbur.
Not because you are answering to the loudspeaker but rather because you
are part of a minyan. Although you do not technically hear what
they are saying, the loudspeaker indicates this to you. However if
you are not standing in the presence of the minyan you may not answer.
(Halichos Shlomo, Tefila 22:15) </font></body>
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