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Follow up to this answer

It seems that the Amidah begins with the words ה שפתי תפתח, and not the word ברוך which begins אבות.

O.C. 111:2 indicates that when the Shat'z repeats the Amidah, he should say ה שפתי תפתח aloud. However Ba'er Hetev says he should say it silently.

It seems that if in fact the Amidah begins with this verse, Shat'z should say it aloud. What is the logic behind Ba'er Hetev's reasoning?

msh210
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DanF
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  • FYI Shaar Hatziyun on the MB, quotes "Acharonim" as the source for saying it quietly. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik advocated saying it aloud. – Avrohom Yitzchok Jul 15 '18 at 10:41
  • In general, based on my experience, it seems that Ashkenazim say it quietly (as I do) while Sefardim say it aloud. – DonielF Jul 15 '18 at 12:37
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    I'm guessing because it's a part of the teffilah which is relevent only to him –  Jul 15 '18 at 13:22
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    @oranges why is it relevant only to him? He was already yotzei. anything now is seemingly for the congregation to be yotzei with, no? – Double AA Jul 16 '18 at 16:54
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    @DoubleAA it's in the singular , as opposed to the rest of shemonei esreh which is in the plural, since it applies to his recitation only. –  Jul 16 '18 at 16:56
  • @Orangesandlemons You may have hit on something. This is considered part of the Amidah, and logically, if he's repeating the entire Amidah aloud, it should include this, too. However, perhaps, this is a specific request that G-d open his lips as a shat"z so that he can be a proper Shat'z. Similar to some of the ideas of the Hineni prayer said prior to Musaph on High Holidays. – DanF Jul 16 '18 at 17:09
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    BTW, we don't all hold like the Be'er Heiteiv. @DonielF I think your experience is due to the rise of the Mishnah Berurah, and is contrary to the Arukh haShulchan. – Micha Berger Jul 17 '18 at 18:36

1 Answers1

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Biur Halachah 111:2 assumes that it is recited quietly because it is not relevant to the congregation:

דלא שייך גבייהו כלל זה הפסוק דאדני שפתי תפתח וגו' כיון שאינם מתפללים בעצמן

The verse of אדני שפתי תפתח etc. is not relevant to them at all, since they are not praying themselves.

I understand him to mean that it is only the chazzan (whose lips and mouth are actually going to open and speak) who needs to request assistance in praying. The congregation, even if they are fulfilling their obligation through the chazzan's repetition of the amidah, are not actually speaking at all, and thus do not need to say nor hear this verse.

Joel K
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