Daf Yomi - Yoma 69 - Boruch Sheim

Whenever a bracha was recited in the Beis Hamikdosh, the people would respond with ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד. Would this response be required to be in a quiet tone like we say it in krias shema or perhaps it can be answered loudly?

There are two reasons as to why we recite ברוך שם quietly. The Gemora in Pesachim relates that the שבטים said שמע ישראל and Yaakov responded with ברוך שם. The chachamim had a dilema as to how we should recite shema. Perhaps we should not say ברוך שם for it is not in the Torah, however it is not proper to refrain from saying it for Yaakov did recite it. They resolved this by ruling that it should be recited quietly.

There is a Midrash that relates what transpired when Moshe went up th שמים. He heard the malachim praising the רבונו של עולם with ברוך שם. He was greatly impressed with this and brought it down for Klal Yisroel to say as well. The Midrash brings a parable and concludes that it would not be proper to recite this tefillah out loud for it is considered stolen from the angels, however on Yom Kippur, when we are compared to malachim, it can be said out loud.

We will iy"H write more about this issue later in the day.