Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading

For Parashat B'reishit

Two of the oldest topics to appear in this column are AMEIN CHATUFA and the correct pronunciation of the name of G-d that ends in a PATACHed MAPIK HEI (eLO-ak, not eLO-ka).
The AMEIN CHATUFA is the answer of AMEIN before the chazan (or whoever is saying a bracha) finishes. Throughout the years, we have warned about waiting until the end of the bracha NO MATTER HOW stretched out a chazan makes it. The style of davening on RH & YK as well as Yom Tov often “invites” the kahal to begin their AMEIN while the chazan finishes his bracha, rather than waiting until the bracha is actually completed. A premature AMEIN is no AMEIN, leaving the bracha unanswered and possibly L’VATALA in the case of the repetition of the Amida.
We are pleased to report a significant improvement over the years in the kahal’s waiting and in the chazan’s help towards a proper AMEIN by ending the bracha abruptly before the careless members of the congregation start their AMEIN.
Similarly, we have seem an increased awareness concerning the MAPIK HEI with a PATACH under it (at the end of a word. Said letter/vowel combination is pronounced exactly as the CHET with a PATACH at the end of a word. Apple is ta-PU-ach, not ta-PU-cha. This we all know. High is ga-VO-ahhh, not ga-VO-ha. And G-d’s name is eLO-ahhh (not eLO-ha).

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