How the Ben Ish Chai Made Up 90 Amens and 100 Brachot Each Day

How the Ben Ish Chai Made Up 90 Amens and 100 Brachot Each Day

1. 90 Amens It is widely known that every Jew should recite 100 brachot and answer “amen” 90 times each day. But in our time, during the pandemic, it is difficult to reach the required number of brachot and ameinim outside the synagogue. The Sefer “Keter Malchut” states that it is a good practice to recite a pasuk from Tehillim (89:53): “Baruch Adonai le-olam amen ve-amen (אדנ׳׳י) ve-amen (הוי׳׳ה)” — “Blessed is the L-rd forever, amen and amen” — 45 times each day. When saying “amen ve-amen”, one should focus one's thoughts on the combination of the Names אדנ׳׳י הוי׳׳ה. This passage enables a person to make up the 90 amens that he is obligated to say each day if he is required to remain home alone and cannot go to the synagogue [to answer “amen” there]. Ben Ish Chai recited this verse the indicated number of times each day after Birkat Kohanim, which follows the morning blessings. In Sephardic siddurim today, this pasuk, together with the instruction to recite it 45 times, can be found immediately after Birkat HaShachar. It is a good idea to set a specific time for this passage so as not to forget it. 2. “Or zarua la-tzadik u-leyishrei lev simchah” Recite 17 times, corresponding to the gematria of the word “tov” (“good”), another pasuk from Tehillim (97:11): “Or zarua la-tzadik u-leyishrei lev simchah” — “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” Gaon Rabbi Chaim Palagi, of blessed memory, taught that it is very beneficial to recite this pasuk 17 times each day, corresponding to the word “tov” (“good”) — for then 17 kolot (voices) are heard in Heaven. Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel explained in the Targum Yonatan that the word “zarua” זרוע (“sown”) should be read with the intention of rearranging its letters as עוזר “ozer” (“helps”); this then yields the meaning: “The light helps the righteous.”   3. 100 Brachot Each Day Reciting daily a passage from the book of “Divrei HaYamim” (I, 29), “Vayvarech David”, helps make up the 100 brachot required each day. Our Sages instituted its recitation as part of the daily morning zemirot. However, a person may recite it separately 7 times or 10 times each day, and each time afterward recite the phrase: “Baruch Atah Adonai lamdeni chukecha” — “Blessed are You, L-rd; teach me Your statutes.” (Tehillim 119:12) Recite 7 or 10 times VAYVARECH DAVID ET-ADONAI LE-EINEI KOL-HAKAHAL, VAYOMER DAVID, BARUCH ATAH ADONAI ELOHEI YISRAEL AVINU, ME-OLAM VE-AD-OLAM. LECHA ADONAI HA-GEDULAH VE-HA-GEVURAH VE-HA-TIFERET, VE-HA-NETZACH VE-HA-HOD, KI CHOL BA-SHAMAYIM U-VA-ARETZ, LECHA ADONAI HA-MAMLACHAH, VE-HAMITNASE LECHOL LE-ROSH VE-HA-OSHER VE-HA-KAVOD MILFANECHA VE-ATAH MOShEL BAKOL, UVE-YADECHA KOACH U-GEVURAH, UVE-YADECHA LEG ADEL U-LECHAZEK LAKOL. “And David blessed the L-rd before the eyes of the entire assembly, and David said: Blessed are You, L-rd, G-d of Israel, our father, forever and ever. Yours, L-rd, are greatness, might, glory, eternity, and splendor, for everything in heaven and on earth is Yours, L-rd; the kingdom is Yours, and You are exalted above all. Wealth and honor come from You, and You rule over all; in Your hand are strength and might, and in Your hand is the power to make great and strengthen everyone.” “Baruch Atah Adonai lamdeni chukecha” — “Blessed are You, L-rd; teach me Your statutes.” (Tehillim 119:12) In addition to the hidden meaning and benefit contained in reciting these verses, when necessary they can serve to make up the number of blessings needed to reach the required daily total of 100 brachot. Ben Ish Chai calls this practice worthy and reliable. See also the book “Pitchei Teshuvah,” commentary on “Yoreh De'ah,” section 328, subsection 1, which cites the words of the author of “Pri Tevuah.”   (Ben Ish Chai, “Laws of the Morning Blessings,” “Vayeshev”)