Does One Answer “Amen” if He Did Not Hear the Bracha, or to a Bracha He Heard Via Broadcast?

Even if one did not hear a Bracha recited in its entirety, and heard only the end of the Bracha, he nevertheless recites “Amen.” Thus, for example, if somebody is reciting “Asher Yasar,” and another person comes along and hears him conclude, “U’mafli La’asot,” he answers “Amen.” Hacham Ovadia Yosef adds that even if a person did not hear the Bracha at all, but he saw a person reciting a Bracha and he knows with certainty which Bracha is recited, then he answers “Amen.” For example, if a person saw somebody leave the restroom and mutter to himself, it is clear that this individual recites “Asher Yasar,” and so once he finishes, the other person answers “Amen,” even though he did not hear the Bracha at all. Similarly, if a person sees somebody holding a fruit, mutter some words, and then bring the fruit to his mouth, he knows for certain that this individual just recited “Boreh Peri Ha’etz,” and so he recites “Amen.” Hacham Ovadia ruled that one answers “Amen” to a Bracha which he heard over a live broadcast. Although one does not answer “Amen” after hearing the recording of a Bracha, he does answer “Amen” if he hears the Bracha live, either on the radio, by phone, or through other technological devices.

By Rabbi Eli Mansour