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1) It is proper to answer Amen to every Tefilah and Bracha that one hears, even if no Name of Hashem appears in the Tefilah/Bracha.
Thus after every "HaRachaman" in Birchas HaMazon it is proper to answer Amen. (Shl"a quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 189:5)
After hearing a "Mi Shebairach" blessing an individual (common after receiving an Aliya to the Torah in Shul) it is proper to answer "Amen". Doing so is also a fulfillment of the Mitzvah of "V'Ahavta L'Reacha Kamocha, love your friend as you love yourself", as people certainly want others to answer Amen to Mi Shebairachs for themselves. (Aruch HaShulchan Siman 215:1)
2) One, who hears a Bracha that wasn't said properly, or was a Bracha L'vatalah, a Bracha in vain, may not answer Amen, as doing so will be as if he/she has said the name of Hashem in vain. (Mishna Berura Siman 215:21)
Similarly, if one hears someone recite a Bracha on a food that is prohibited to eat (e.g. non kosher or stolen food and the like) Amen should not be answered. (Mishna Berura Siman 196:2 and Sha'ar HaTzion 196:1)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
There is a minhag that by the chupa, the kallah takes off her jewellery and gives them to her single friends and her bouquet of flowers as well as a 'segula' to find their zivug.
Is there anything to it or is it a chuk goy [non Jewish custom]?
Answer:
This is a well established minhag. One of the reasons given is that a Choson and Kalah don't wear Jewelry at the chupah to show that they are marrying each other for who they are, and not for their wealth or other external reasons.
Since when the jewelry is removed, someone has to hold it, the minhag evolved to give it to friends, and it became known as a segulah.
There is nothing wrong with doing this as a minhag and it isn't Chukas HaGoy, but it has no source in Halacha, and there is no need to do this if they don't want to.
Also, there is no need to empty their pockets or loosen any ties, according to Halacha, yet many have the minhag to do so. (based on Psak of HaGaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlita quoted in the newly printed sefer Yismach Lev. Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, also quoted in Yismach Lev says that Al Pi Kabalah, it is important to empty the pockets. Many Mesadrei Kedushin require this and an equal amount do not. Every person should follow his or her own minhag)
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
