Shehechiyanu for new fruit

Hi,

Next Wednesday is Tu b'Shevat. There is a custom of eating fruit, and particularly fruit associated with Israel, on this day. Here are some of the laws of Shehechiyanu for new fruit:

One who sees a seasonal, newly available fruit, and feels great joy at seeing it, recites the berachah of Shehechiyanu.  One whose personal joy is not that great should not recite Shehechiyanu.

Technically, one recites Shehechiyanu even when seeing someone else's fruit, but we generally recite Shehechiyanu only upon eating; this is when most people feel the greatest joy.

We recite Shehechiyanu before the borei pri ha'eitz recited for the fruit. One who eats many types of new fruit at the same sitting should recite one collective Shehechiyanu.

One does not recite Shehechiyanu on underripe fruit, even if it is somewhat edible. One does recite Shehechiyanu on cooked fruit.

Fruit which is available via import all year still warrants a Shehechiyanu when it begins to grow locally and one eats it for the first time, if the local fruit is fresher or better. Fruits which are available during two distinct times of the year, with a significant (at least one month) period of non-availability between them, warrant Shehechiyanu each time the fruit becomes available and its presence induces joy.

One should avoid reciting Shehechiyanu on fruit produced via a graft prohibited by the Torah. Shehechiyanu is not recited for items on which we recite a berachah of borei pri ha'adamah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 225:3, 6; Mishneh Berurah 225:11-12, 18; Aruch haShulchan 225:7, 12; Birkei Yosef 225:4; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:87, 2:58, 3:34)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

First candle lighting

Hi,

One who lights Shabbat/Yom Tov candles for the first time should recite Shehechiyanu. Where the first time is Yom Tov, the person lighting should recite Shehechiyanu once and have in mind both the first time performing the mitzvah and lighting for Yom Tov.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:182)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A berachah on seeing a friend

Hi,

The Talmud (Berachot 58b) and Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 225:1) record that one who sees a friend after an absence of thirty days should recite the blessing of Shehechiyanu; the Shulchan adds that this is only if the friend is beloved, such that seeing him brings great joy.

Today we do not recite this berachah, perhaps because of uncertainty as to the level of joy specified in the Shulchan Aruch.

[MT - Perhaps another reason this has fallen out of practice is because the joy came from discovering that the friend was alive, after an extended absence. Indeed, after 12 months they would recite a stronger berachah, "Blessed is the One who revives the dead"! So perhaps in the modern age, when modern communications have made it more likely that people are alive unless one hears otherwise, the sense of happy relief associated with the meeting has become less powerful.]

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:161:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New tzitzit or tefillin during the Three Weeks

Hi,

May I wear new tzitzis or tefillin during the Three Weeks?

During the "Three Weeks" period between the 17^th of Tammuz and Tishah b'Av we do not wear clothing which would require a berachah of shehechiyanu, because of the joy involved. This includes wearing a new tallis; it also applies to wearing tzitzis, where new tzitzis garments are uncommon and bring joy.

Many authorities do permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat, before the Nine Days begin. Some specify not to recite shehechiyanu, although they permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat. One should follow communal custom.

New tefillin may be worn during the Three Weeks. Even though some do recite shehechiyanu on the first occasion of wearing tefillin, that is because of joy in the mitzvah, not because of the joy of wearing new clothing.

(Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Berachos 11:9; Beit Yosef Orach Chaim 22:1; Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 551:10-11; Avnei Nezer Orach Chaim 428; Chayyei Adam 133:8; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 551:18; Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

Have a good day,

Mordechai

Reciting Shehechiyanu for someone else

Hi,

If multiple people purchase new garments, each should recite Shehechiyanu individually, rather than have one recite it on behalf of the rest.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:23:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu in Mourning

Hi,

One who is in mourning does recite Shehechiyanu for occasions which are not of his creation, like Chanukah and Purim. However, he should not recite Shehechiyanu for situations of his own creation, like purchasing a new fruit or new garment.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu for Chanukah and Purim

Hi,

The days of Chanukah and Purim do not have inherent sanctity. Therefore, one would not recite Shehechiyanu for them, other than upon performing their unique mitzvot.

This is different from Yom Kippur, for example, when one recites Shechiyanu separate from the performance of any Yom Kippur-related mitzvah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:43:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reviewing the laws of Shehechiyanu

Hi,

With Tu b'Shevat happening this coming Shabbat, and an associated custom of eating special fruit, here are some of the laws of Shehechiyanu:

One who sees a seasonal, newly available fruit, and feels great joy at seeing it, recites the berachah of Shehechiyanu; this should be done before reciting the berachah on eating the fruit.  Technically, one recites Shehechiyanu even when seeing someone else's fruit, but we generally recite the blessing only upon eating; this is when most people feel the greatest joy. One who eats many types of new fruit at the same sitting should recite one collective Shehechiyanu.

One does not recite Shehechiyanu on underripe fruit, even if it is somewhat edible. One does recite Shehechiyanu on cooked fruit.

Fruit which is available via import all year still warrants a Shehechiyanu when it begins to grow locally and one eats it for the first time, if the local fruit is fresher or better. Fruits which are available during two distinct times of the year, with a significant (at least one month) period of non-availability between them, warrant Shehechiyanu each time the fruit becomes available and its presence induces joy.

One should avoid reciting Shehechiyanu on fruit produced via a graft prohibited by the Torah. The berachah is not recited for items which receive a berachah of "borei pri ha'adamah". One whose personal joy is not that great should not recite Shehechiyanu.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 225:3, 6; Mishneh Berurah 225:11-12, 18; Aruch haShulchan 225:7, 12; Birkei Yosef 225:4; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:87, 2:58, 3:34)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Amen after Shehechiyanu recited at Kiddush

Hi,

One who recited Shehechiyanu when lighting Yom Tov candles still responds Amen after the Shehechiyanu of the person who recites kiddush. Saying 'Amen' is not considered an inappropriate interruption between kiddush and drinking, because the berachah of Shehechiyanu is necessary for the person reciting kiddush.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:1)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

New fruit or clothes for second night of Rosh HaShanah

Hi,

Do I need a new fruit in order to recite Shehechiyanu on the second night of Rosh haShanah?

The second day of Rosh haShanah is considered an extension of the first day for certain laws, and therefore it may not warrant an independent Shehechiyanu. Therefore, one who will recite Shehechiyanu in lighting candles or in making kiddush should provide some other reason for reciting Shehechiyanu, such as by having a new fruit present, or wearing new clothing.

Shechiyanu should be recited for fruit only if it becomes available seasonally. Some suggest that one should not normally recite Shehechiyanu on a seasonal fruit which is available via import all through the year, but for the sake of the berachah on Rosh haShanah one may use this fruit.

One who has neither new clothing nor a new fruit should still recite Shechiyanu.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 225:6; 600:2; Mishneh Berurah 600:4; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:34)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New tefillin and tzitzit during the Three Weeks

Hi,

May I wear new tzitzis or tefillin during the Three Weeks?

During the "Three Weeks" period between the 17th of Tammuz and Tishah b'Av we do not wear clothing which would require a berachah of shehechiyanu, because of the joy involved. This includes wearing a new tallis; it also applies to wearing tzitzis, where new tzitzis garments are uncommon and bring joy.

Many authorities do permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat, before the Nine Days begin. Some specify not to recite shehechiyanu, although they permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat. One should follow communal custom.

New tefillin may be worn during the Three Weeks. Even though some do recite shehechiyanu on the first occasion of wearing tefillin, that is because of joy in the mitzvah, not because of the joy of wearing new clothing.

(Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Berachos 11:9; Beit Yosef Orach Chaim 22:1; Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 551:10-11; Avnei Nezer Orach Chaim 428; Chayyei Adam 133:8; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 551:18; Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu on a new car

Hi,

One recites Shehechiyanu upon purchasing a new vehicle, even if it is to be used for a work.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80 - so it appears, although I must admit that I don't understand the flow of his paragraph here)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Buying mitzvah items during the Nine Days

Hi,

One may purchase tefillin during the Nine Days, as these are purchased for their mitzvah.

One may not purchase a Tallit, because it is a garment and it is important enough to warrant a Shehechiyanu.

One may purchase a Tallit Katan (tzitzit) if the garment is not significant to him [I believe the definition of significance is in terms of the joy it brings the wearer].

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"New fruits" which are available all year long

Hi,

Fruit which is not naturally available all year long, and which is eaten more for pleasure than for nutrition, warrants a Shehechiyanu blessing if one has it for the first time that season - even if it is accessible via import all year.

However, it might be wise to minimize use of this blessing, since authorities have recommended that and since the blessing is optional.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:34)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu on Grafted Fruit

Hi,

If trees of different species are grafted in a manner which violates Jewish law, the fruit they produce is still permitted. However, one should eat the fruit in a way which will not require a Shehechiyanu blessing (ie eating them with another new fruit), to avoid making a berachah expressing joy at this sin.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:58)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Multiple blessings of Shehechiyanu

Hi,

One who eats of many new types of fruit at the same setting should recite one blessing of Shehechiyanu for all of them, collectively.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:87)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

The return of a stolen item

Hi,

One who hears that a thief who stole from him has been caught should not recite the blessing for hearing good news; one does not recite the blessing until the stolen goods are returned, making the news more tangible.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot on hearing news, Part IV

Hi,

One only recites the relevant blessing (see previous emails) for good or bad news if one personally witnesses the event, or one hears the news from a credible, direct witness of the event.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot on hearing news

Hi,

One who hears news about a development which is good for him personally - but not for others - and who feels joy as a result, recites the berachah of Shehechiyanu.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 222:1; Mishneh Berurah 222:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu on a Tallit?

Hi,

One who acquires a new set of tzitzit, or a new tallit, recites the blessing of "Shehechiyanu." One does this upon acquiring/making the item, but if he didn't do it at that time then he does it before donning it for the first time, after reciting the normal blessing.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 22:1; Mishneh Berurah 8:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai