(Rav Chisda) said to him (Rami bar Chama) ... whoever
answers Amen longer than necessary is simply mistaken
The Rabbis taught ... And whoever prolongs his saying
Amen, they lengthen his days and his years for him
Tosfos say that answering Amen longer than necessary is
simply mistaken because is because it will lead to mispronunciation of the word
and because it also delays the moment at which the person who made the Motzi
blessing is allowed to eat.
The Maharsha takes a completely different approach.
Saying Amen for longer than necessary is simply mistaken because it is
predicated on an erroneous assumption that extended life (which prolonging the
saying of Amen will cause) is always good. A long life is positive, a life
which is longer than appropriate is not. Quality of life, not mere quantity is
that to which we should aspire.
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