1

If you hear someone saying kaddish virtually (such as at a virtual siyum, or a streamed ceremony), should you answer amen?

Note that this is talking about when listening live.

Does it make a difference whether you're listening via internet or radio/TV?

Improve this question
5
  • Although the question is now different, I'm pretty sure I saw a duplicate of this now different question somewhere. But I can't find it now, so I am commenting to motivate someone else who may know where that duplicate is.
    – Yishai
    Commented Jun 11, 2014 at 14:44
  • I believe the Rivevos Ephraim holds you do,will look it up
    – sam
    Commented Jun 11, 2014 at 15:34
  • Not a duplicate anymore -- now the question is about live-streaming, instead of recording....though this answer to that question deals with this as well
    – MTL
    Commented Jun 11, 2014 at 18:58
  • @sam
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jun 17, 2014 at 3:48
  • In the 1st season of Homeland Saul Berenson recites Kaddish. Could one answer to that? ;)
    – El Shteiger
    Commented Jan 20, 2015 at 1:55

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

Summary: You do say 'Amen' when listening only live through a telephone or simulcast (dont think the medium makes a difference). You however arent yotze a mitzvah if you do it this way.

Taken from here

Rabbi Eli Mansour

Likewise, if a person listens to a live broadcast of a Shiur via telephone, radio or a live feed over the internet, and Kaddish is recited after the Shiur, he should respond to the Kaddish. Since the person hears Kaddish recited live, he should answer. Of course, one does not respond if he hears a recording of Kaddish or of a Beracha. One responds only if he hears the Beracha or Kaddish at the time it is recited, such as via telephone or a live broadcast.

But

One should not answer “Amen” to a Beracha he hears via telephone or broadcast if he should have recited the Beracha himself. For example, before a person dons his Tallit, he should not call his friend in the synagogue, have him recite the Beracha on his behalf, and then answer “Amen.”

He doesnt mention the exact source, but from the mp3 of the class it sounds like he is reading from a sefer.

Improve this answer
3
  • What's the position on internet and radio? Radio seems like phone haclachot would apply, as they're both instant.
    – Scimonster
    Commented Jun 17, 2014 at 12:04
  • 1
    @Scimonster Rabbi Mansour seems to be of the opinion that telephone, radio and internet are all the same in this regard.
    – TreeKing
    Commented Jun 18, 2014 at 8:25
  • @Scimonster I take issue with the equivalence of a physical distance (outside the shul) to a digital reproduction (the phone/radio/telecast). The voice being heard is being created entirely by the electronic speakers, so there should be no distinction between a "live" recreation or a "replayed" one. I would love to see a further source that justifies the distinctions r' Mansour makes.
    – Isaac Kotlicky
    Commented Feb 10, 2016 at 17:33

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .