“AMEN SONGS”: When I Say Amen (Rachel Wammack)
January 1, 2025
Cantor Eyal Bitton highlights a song that connects with this year’s Congregation Neveh Shalom theme, “Amen – Be a Blessing.”
Rachel Wammack’s “When I Say Amen” is a poignant and deeply personal reflection on faith, resilience, and the quiet strength found in moments of prayer. The song captures the essence of Amen as more than just a word—it is an affirmation, a bridge between human vulnerability and divine assurance. Whether spoken in joy, whispered in sorrow, or uttered in uncertainty, Amen carries the weight of hope, trust, and connection. This makes Wammack’s song a perfect expression of our theme, “Amen – Be a Blessing.” It reminds us that every Amen is not just a closing to a prayer but an opening to possibility—a blessing both received and given.
In Parashat Vayigash, Judah stands before Joseph and delivers one of the most heartfelt pleas in the Torah. His words, spoken with raw sincerity and deep courage, break down barriers and lead to a moment of profound reconciliation. Judah’s willingness to lay bare his soul creates the space for healing and unity—a blessing that ripples outward to his entire family. Wammack’s “When I Say Amen” mirrors this same emotional depth. It reminds us that words spoken with faith, vulnerability, and conviction have the power to heal, transform, and bring light into places of darkness.
The song’s imagery—candles glowing in the night, fragile whispers of hope—beautifully reflects the emotional and spiritual themes of Vayigash. In both the parasha and the song, we are reminded that faith does not eliminate struggle, but it gives us the strength to face it. Saying Amen is not a passive act; it is an active choice to trust, to hope, and to move forward despite uncertainty.
When we say Amen, we are not merely concluding a prayer—we are declaring our belief in the possibility of redemption, healing, and blessing. “When I Say Amen” captures this truth, urging us to carry that spirit into our lives. In every moment of challenge or gratitude, we have the opportunity to embody our theme: to say Amen with intention, and in doing so, to be a blessing.
Here is a fan video of Rachel Wammack’s “When I Say Amen.” The fan has added many images of personal blessings.
When I Say Amen
I say it hoping, it’s just what I need
I say it believing when my heart is bleeding
That my words break the ceiling when I say amen
At the end of a prayer
Running out on the edge
On fire like a sunset
I lift my hands
To first love shooting stars
Burning candles in the dark
Every step, every breath
That’s when I say amen
I say it loud with I do’s at a wedding
Back of the bleachers at a cold homecoming game
Sing it out lonely here on the highway
When life won’t go my way I say it again
At the end of a prayer
Running out on the edge
On fire like a sunset
I lift my hands
To first love shooting stars
Burning candles in the dark
Every step, every breath
That’s when I say amen
Amen, amen, amen
I say it quiet when faith is a whisper
And I hear it echo like a Heavenly choir
At the end of a prayer
Running out on the edge
On fire like a sunset
I lift my hands
To first love shooting stars
Burning candles in the dark
Every step, every breath
That’s when I say amen
That’s when I say amen
Amen, amen
