At the conclusion of the Amida prayer, we end off with the blessing of “Ha’Mevarech Et Amo Yisrael Ba’Shalom, Amen.” Immediately thereafter, we recite the verse, “Yihyu Le’Ratzon Imrei Fi Ve’Hegyon Libi Lefanecha, Hashem Tzuri Ve’Go’ali.” This is the official end of the Amida. We then add some additional supplication prayers called “Elokai Netzor.” Nowadays, it is the prevalent custom throughout the Jewish nation to recite the “Elokai Netzor” paragraph, and it has been adopted as though it were actually part of the Amida prayer.
If one is in the middle of reciting the Amida prayer and hears Kaddish or Kedusha, one may not answer Amen with the congregation. (Clearly, there is no distinction between men and women regarding this law.) Nevertheless, this law changes after one has recited the “Yihyu Le’Ratzon” verse, as we shall explain.
The Opinion of the Turei Zahav
The Turei Zahav writes (in Chapter 122) that if one is currently reciting the “Elokai Netzor” prayer and hears Kaddish or a blessing, one may answer Amen. Maran Ha’Chida rules likewise in his Kesher Gudal (Chapter 9, Section 17).
The saintly Ben Ish Hai (Parashat Beshalach) concurs: “Immediately following the ‘Sim Shalom’ blessing, one should recite the ‘Yihyu Le’Ratzon’ verse, for this is part of the Amida prayer. Before reciting this verse, one should not interrupt even to respond to Kaddish or Kedusha. However, after reciting this verse, one may interrupt to answer any words of holiness, even Amen to blessings.” This clearly refers to interrupting anywhere within the “Elokai Netzor” blessing.
For instance, if a woman is praying at home and she hears someone recite a blessing while she is reciting the “Elokai Netzor” paragraph, she must answer Amen. This represents the opinion of the Turei Zahav and Ben Ish Hai.
The Opinion of Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch
Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l questions this opinion, for there is a disagreement among the Poskim regarding what one may answer in the middle of “Elokai Netzor.” Some Poskim maintain that one may only respond to Kaddish and Kedusha, but not Amen to blessings. Maran zt”l proceeds to prove that this is indeed the opinion of Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch, among other Poskim, such Hagaon Rabbeinu Yehuda Ayash in his Mateh Yehuda (Chapter 122) and Hagaon Rabbeinu Mordechai Karmi in his Ma’amar Mordechai (ibid).
Thus, halachically speaking, Maran zt”l rules (in his Halichot Olam, Volume 1, page 139 and on) that during “Elokai Netzor,” one may only respond to Kedusha (only “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh” and “Baruch Kevod Hashem Mi’Mekomo, not “Yimloch”) and the first five Amens of Kaddish (until the words “Da’amiran Be’Alma”). However, one may not answer Amen to blessings at this point in one’s prayer. He defends this position vigorously.
Summary: While reciting the “Elokai Netzor” paragraph at the end of the Amida, one may only interrupt to answer “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh” and “Baruch Kevod Hashem Mi’Mekomo of Kedusha and the first five Amens of Kaddish.
