The Gemara in Shabbat 119b teaches us that there is a power we have when we say Amen. When the Jewish people say Amen, which is an acronym for ק-ל מלך נאמן, God, trustworthy/reliable king, and say it with the right intention, they will be forgiven by Hashem. In this week’s parsha we see how saying Amen causes annulment for a sin.

In Parshat Ki Tisa, Moshe tells Hashem, “אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך, If I now find favor in Your eyes,” then agrees to forgive the Jews. Rebbetzin Yemima Mizrachi, in one of her shiurim on Megillat Esther, talks about paying attention to a phrase similar to this. In Megillat Esther, Esther says to Achashverosh, “אם מצאתי חן בעיניך, If I have found favor in your eyes,” and she explains how when you say this, the first word and the mem (מ), which is punctuated as ma, sounds like אמא (mother). She explains how Esther used her words so wisely that at the same time that she was talking and trying to convince Achashverosh to save her, she was also calling out to our mothers, Sara, Rivka, Rachel and Leah, for help. Moshe is doing a similar thing. He said the first word with the first letter of the second word as well. Moshe said not only “if I now find favor in Your eyes,” but the word Amen. He is telling Hashem, “You are the God of mercy, and please do not destroy us.”

When we say Amen or any word with true meaning we have the power to get what we requested. An Amen with meaning allows us to start new and become better versions of ourselves, so when you hear a bracha, say Amen like you mean it.

By Shira Sedek