Q. I am Ashkenazi and belong to a group of Chabad ladies who get together on zoom to say morning brachas and learn. Their tradition is to say amen after each line in the priestly blessing. My minhag is to say kayn yehi ratzon. Is it a problem if I follow their minhag and say amen?
They do not pause to allow others to say Baruch hu Baruch shemo and I was wondering if being on zoom would be a reason to not do it or if it is generally something meritorious to say.
Also, can I still say amen if my microphone isn't working properly and they can't hear me?
A. Regarding learning Torah, Shiurim and celebrating a Siyum even on Erev Pesach on question 531 we wrote that if one learned the Masechta (Talmud tractate) to be finished and is on his way to the siyum he could join the siyum via telephone or online.
However regarding reciting Tashlich via zoom on question 2845 we mentioned: "Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that one should not. The reason is that reciting Tashlich requires being next to a body of flowing water, and is similar to other mitzvos, where the presence of the article, place or situation that brings about a blessing or Tefilah, has to be real.
After all one recites a brocho only on real lightning or thunder, Kiddush Levana only when actually seeing the moon and not a picture or reflection of it, or listening to the Megila and answering Keddusha or Kaddish only when the voices are real and present.
In regard to answering the 13 Middos when saying Selichos via zoom on question 3898 we wrote that they should not be recited since; "Usually, any zoom contact does not contribute to mitzvos that require a minyan."
Although, Igrois Moishe (O.H. 4: 91: 4) debates the issue in regards to answering amen for a blessing heard via telephone or loudspeaker. It is practically accepted that one does not. Therefore, one should not answer Amen, Baruch Hu Ubaruch Shemo, Kedusha or Kadish when hearing it by phone, on line or zooming.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
Important Numbers
