Mishnayos Brachos Perek 5 Mishnah 4
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ברכות פרק ה׳ משנה ד׳
In order to prevent the prayer leader from erring in his prayer, it was said that one who passes before the ark should not respond amen after the blessing of the priests, because of potential confusion. Since the mishna is describing a situation in which he was praying without a prayer book, responding amen would interrupt the order of the prayer and potentially lead him to begin a different blessing. For this reason, even if there is no priest other than the communal prayer leader, he does not lift his hands to bless the people, lest he become confused. And, however, if he is certain that he can lift his hands and resume his prayer without becoming confused, he is permitted to recite the blessing.
הָעוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה, לֹא יַעֲנֶה אַחַר הַכֹּהֲנִים אָמֵן, מִפְּנֵי הַטֵּרוּף. וְאִם אֵין שָׁם כֹּהֵן אֶלָּא הוּא, לֹא יִשָּׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. וְאִם הַבְטָחָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו וְחוֹזֵר לִתְפִלָּתוֹ, רַשַּׁאי:
Bartenura
לא יענה אחר הכהנים אמן. בסוף כל ברכה כמו ששאר הצבור עונים:
מפני הטירוף. שלא תטרוף דעתו ויטעה, לפי שש״ץ הוא צריך להתחיל ברכה שניה ולהקרות להן מלה במלה ואם יענה אמן לא יוכל לכוין ולחזור לתפלתו מהר ולהתחיל הברכה שראוי שיתחיל:
לא ישא את כפיו. שמא לא יוכל לכוין ולחזור לתפלתו להתחיל שים שלום שתהא דעתו מטורפת מאימתא דצבורא:
ואם הבטחתו. כלומר אם בטוח הוא שלא תהא דעתו מטורפת מאימת הצבור:
לא יענה אחר הכהנים אמן – at the conclusion of each blessing such as the rest of the congregation does (i.e. After the Kohanim, at the prompting of the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation, recites each word in Hebrew of – “May the LORD bless you and guard you” – the congregation would answer “Amen.”).
מפני הטירוף – that he (the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation) would not be confused and err since the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation would need to begin the second blessing and recite it to them (the Kohanim), word by word, and if he would answer “Amen,” (following the completion of the recitation of the blessing by the Kohanim), he would not be able to concentrate and return to his prayer speedily , and to begin the blessing in the appropriate manner that he should begin.
לא ישא את כפיו – Lest he is unable to concentrate and return to his prayer (repetition of the Amidah and to begin “שים שלום/Grant peace” (the concluding blessing of the Amidah), as his mind would be confused due to his fear of the congregation.
ואם הבטחתו – that is if he is self-assured that he won’t become confused from the fear of the congregation.