Amen. This word is universal, everyone recognizes it. But what exactly is the power of this word and what does it really signify? The Zohar Hakadosh teaches us that there are times when the gates of heaven are closed off to our prayers. When there is a Heavenly decree Chas Ve’Shalom to ignore someone’s prayers, all the screaming and begging cannot help, as the verse states: “…though you pray at length, I will not listen… - …שֹׁמֵ֑עַ אֵינֶ֣נִּי תְפִלָּ֖ה כִּֽי־תַרְבּ֥וּ… (Isaiah 1:15).” But the Zohar Hakadosh teaches us, as bleak as this may seem, all is not lost.
With the power of a proper Amen in answer to a Bracha (blessing), we are able to reopen all the closed ‘gates’ in heaven which prevent our prayers from reaching the Kisei Hakavod (God’s Holy Throne). This is borne out from a Midrashic interpretation of the verse: “Open the gates, and let a righteous nation enter, [a nation] that keeps ‘Amen’ - אֱמֻנִֽים שֹׁמֵ֥ר גוֹי־צַדִּ֖יק וְיָבֹ֥א שְׁעָרִ֑ים פִּתְח֖וּ (Isaiah 26:2)”. What a wonderful power revealed by the Zohar! Even a severe decree which prevents a response to our supplication can be torn up with a single ‘Amen’ said with heart and emotion.
Our Sages teach us that the word ‘Amen’ itself is actually the name of a certain Nahar (river), which the Torah identifies as “A river (nahar) issues from ‘Eden’ to water the ‘Gan’ - אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת מֵעֵ֔דֶן יֹצֵ֣א וְנָהָרּ֙ (Bereshit 2:10)”. In Kabbalistic literature, ‘Eden’ refers to an extremely rarified spiritual realm, from which Hashem dispenses enormous blessing to the world. The Hebrew word ‘Nahar’ (river) is a cognate of the Aramaic word ‘Nahara’, meaning ‘Light’. The river in the verse above is thus alluding to a spiritual ‘Light’ which consists of all the supernal concepts of Good with which Hashem ‘waters the ‘Gan’’, causing blessing to materialize in our physical world. The name of this spiritual conduit is ‘Amen’. The Mekubalim teach us that Hashem arranged it so that by appropriately responding to a blessing with the word ‘Amen’, we connect to the spiritual conduit named ‘Amen’ and draw upon its function.
Our sages also teach us other ideas about the word ‘Amen’. The Hebrew letter Aleph in the Hebrew word ‘Amen’ symbolizes Hashem’s mastery over creation (Hashem is the Alpha). When we answer ‘Amen’ to a blessing, we are testifying regarding Hashem’s ability to fulfill the request. ‘Amen’ also means ‘may it be so’. Answering ‘Amen’ to a blessing commences the chain reaction we discussed above, drawing blessing into all of Creation. The Talmud asks: who is greater, the one who says the blessing or the one who answers ‘Amen’? The Zohar replies that it is the one who says ‘Amen’.
The Sages also teach us that a person who answers Amen with the right intention causes an announcement in Heaven regarding his action. In response to his ‘Amen’ and on its way down to us, the blessing travels through the realm of the angels and they benefit from it. The angels then recognize the person by name and pray for his wellbeing. When a person’s time arrives and he makes his way to Heaven, an announcement precedes his arrival, “Open the gates, and let a righteous nation enter, [a nation] that keeps ‘Amen’ - אֱמֻנִֽים שֹׁמֵ֥ר גוֹי־צַדִּ֖יק וְיָבֹ֥א שְׁעָרִ֑ים פִּתְח֖וּ (Isaiah 26:2)”. This is extremely beneficial because the declaration removes destructive angels who may wish to bar the person’s entry. The angels which benefited from the blessings drawn down by the meaningful ‘Amen’ greet the deceased and now help him towards his destination.
By Adam Suionov
One simple word Amen has so much power. But we must say it appropriately, during the right time. We should not answer ‘Amen’ until we hear the completion of a blessing. If our ‘Amen’ precedes the completion of a blessing, then it is in vain. May we all merit the great advantages of this powerful tool which Hashem gave us, Amen v’Amen.
The Power of Amen
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