Vayishlach Bulletin in PDF format

It is is forbidden to answer amein without knowing to which berachah it is being said.

And if one does know, amein may be said even if the berachah was not actually heard ( if it is said immediately after the berachah is completed; if b’tzibbur, then as long as most of the tzibbur is still answering).

The reason that one must know which berachah, is because amein must be said with the proper kavanah.

Someone who speaks forbidden speech (e.g., loshon hora, laytzanus, rechilus) in a Shul is transgressing not only the issur inherent in those prohibitions—but is also guilty of violating the kedushas Beis K”nesses,as the person is showing that he has no regard for the fact that HaShem “resides” in this place–for if he did, surely to speak as he is speaking would be doubly unthinkable!