31 Jan THE BERACHA OF SHEHECHIYANU

The beracha of
shehechiyanu applies
to many different areas
such as Yom Tov,
purchasing new items,
performing mitzvahs
and eating new fruits.
This issue will focus
on the beracha of
shehechiyanu as it
applies to new fruits and

other daily applications.
The Beracha on Fruits and those who are
lenient
When a fruit is only available once a year a
shehechiyanu is recited because the new fruits
bring joy to a person. Based on this some
people have the custom not to recite a beracha
on new fruits because there is no real joy with
the new fruit. This will be discussed later on
in this issue.
Obligation vs. Reshus
There is a discussion in the poskim if the
beracha of shehechiyanu on new fruits,
purchasing items, etc is an obligation or
a reshus. According to all opinions, the
shehechiyanu recited on Yom Tovim is an
obligation. Many say that it has become the
custom to treat the shehechiyanu on new
fruits as an obligation. Although, many
poskim say this beracha is a reshus and does
not have to be recited, one should try to make
this beracha when applicable.The Yerushalmi
says one who does not make a beracha on a
new fruit will have to give a din and cheshbon
for his actions.
Nusach of the Beracha
The Mishnah Berurah and others say the
correct pronunciation on the word l’zman is a
cherik which would mean one says li’zeman.
However, the custom of many is to recite the
word l’zman with a patach so that the correct
pronunciation is la’zman.
Fruits
The beracha of shehechiyanu is recited on
new fruits which were not available all year
(below we will discuss the fact that many
fruits are available all year).One does not
recite a shehechiyanu on a fruit which is not
seasonal. The Mishnah Berurah says one
should try to eat new fruits in order that he
can show his love for Hashem’s produce.
Others say if one is lenient with this beracha,
Hashem will lessen the years of his life r”l.
Ready to Eat
The beracha is only recited when one is about
to eat a new fruit, and no beracha is recited
upon seeing a new fruit on a tree or in a store,
etc. The reason is because when one sees the
fruit there is no real joy, and the true joy is
when he is about to eat the fruit.
Did not Recite the Beracha the First Time
According to many poskim one who ate a new
fruit without reciting a shehechiyanu on it
may recite the beracha the second time he eats

the new fruit. Others say that once no beracha
was recited the first time, the opportunity to
recite another beracha was lost. L’maseh, the
minhag is like the second opinion quoted.
Complete Fruit
The beracha on a new fruit is only recited
when the fruit is completely grown. A fruit is
considered fully grown when it has a white
petal on it. One who said a beracha before
this time does not repeat the beracha when the
fruit is complete.
Produce which is Hadama
The poskim say that a beracha of shehechiyanu
may be recited on melons even though one
recites a hadama when eating them.
Items Which do not Grow in the Ground
Items which do not grow in the ground such as
fish or chicken do not require a shehechiyanu
even if it has been a long time since one has
eaten these foods.
Fruit Not Eaten Alone
Many times one eats a fruit which is smeared
on bread and is generally not eaten alone.
An example of this is an avocado. One who
spreads avocado on bread would not recite a
shehechiyanu on it because it is viewed as a
tofel. One who can feel the taste of the avocado
on the bread (i.e. there is a lot of avocado on
the bread) may recite a shehechiyanu on it.
Which is first – Beracha on Fruit or
Shehechiyanu?
There is a big discussion in the poskim as
to which beracha should be recited first,
the beracha of ha’etz, etc or the beracha
of shehechiyanu? Many poskim say that
the beracha on the fruit is first, since the
beracha on the fruit is tadir and the beracha
of shehechiyanu is eino tadir. Many other
poskim say that the beracha of shehechiyanu
is first, since the main time for the beracha
is when one sees the fruit but we wait until
one is about to eat it to recite the beracha.
Therefore, the shehechiyanu should be recited
before the beracha on the fruit. Furthermore,
if the beracha on the fruit is first, when one
recites the shehechiyanu it may be considered
a hefsek. The custom of many people is in
accordance of the first opinion. However,
whichever way one chooses he was yotzei
and it is not a hefsek.
Reciting the Beracha
When one recites the beracha on the fruit it
should be held in his right hand. One should
not be mafsik in idle talk etc in between
the beracha on the fruit and the beracha of
shehechiyanu. If one is brought a new fruit
and a new garment (see below) one beracha is
recited for both of them.
Unsure if you recited a Beracha
Based on the concept of sofek berachos
l’hukel one who is unsure whether he recited
a beracha of shehechiyanu does not recite the
beracha again.

Which Fruits are not obligated in a Beracha
No shehechiyanu is recited for pickles,
cucumbers, potatoes, chickpeas, bread,
radishes (reitach), mushrooms, and carobs.
According to some poskim the beracha is not
recited on watermelon.
Dried Fruits
A fruit which was not available all year round
but is being sold as dried fruit would not
require a shehechiyanu before eating it. (One
should be careful with insects regarding dry
fruit).
Smashed Fruit – Jam
New fruits which are smashed to the point
where it is not recognizable that they
are fruits do not require a shehechiyanu.
However, if there are pieces of the fruit which
are discernible then a beracha can be recited.
The same applies to a drink made from a new
fruit.
Esrog Jam
On Tu B’shevat the custom is to eat esrog
jam and the question arises if a shehechiyanu
should be recited on this. Do we say that
since we recited a shehechiyanu on Succos
the esrog was included in this and there is no
need to recite a shehechiyanu for a second
time. L’maseh, the custom is to recite a
shehechiyanu on esrog jam.
Cooked Fruit
A fruit which is not available all year and is
cooked still requires a shehechiyanu to be
recited on it if it is the derech to eat the fruit
cooked. However, no beracha of shehechiyanu
is recited on a fruit which is not the derech to
eat raw if one eats it raw.
Wine
One does not recite a shehechiyanu on wine
made from new grapes since one cannot tell
the difference between new and old wine.
Fruit “in Season” All Year
In order for a shehechiyanu to be required the
fruit has to be a new fruit. Nevertheless, one
may recite a shehechiaynu on a fruit which
grows two times a year.
Fruits which are available all year due to
being kept in a refrigerator or freezer do not
require a shehechiyanu upon eating them
since one does not have the simcha needed in
order to qualify to recite a beracha on them. In
addition, one does not know which season the
fruits are from. Although, others say one can
recite a shehechiyanu in the above situation,
the minhag is like the first opinion quoted.
Today, most fruits are available all year round
since they grow in warm climates and are
imported from across the world to local fruit
stores. After speaking with several fruit store
owners it seems that most fruit would not
require a shehechiyanu since they are in one’s
grocery store all year-round.
In different countries the metziahs will be
different. In Eretz Yisroel the following are
some of the fruits which are not available all

year and one would recite a shehechiyanu:
avocado, watermelon, cherries, mango, and
strawberries. One who goes from a country
where a specific fruit was not available
all year, to a country where that fruit is
available all year would still recite a beracha
of shehechiyanu on the fruit in his second
location. This is only if it is within thirty days
of leaving his old location.
If a new fruit is different than an old fruit (that
is around all year) in taste then one recites a
shehechiyanu on the new fruit, even though a
similar fruit is available.
Eating New Fruits on Tu B’shevat
Tu B’shevat is the beginning of the new year
for trees. The poskim say on this day many
have the custom to eat fruits in honor of the
new year for the trees. This applies to women
as well. This custom is not mentioned in the
writings of the Arizal. Some say it has a din
like a Yom Tov, and some have a seuda on
Tu B’shevat. Many have the custom to eat
esrog jam on Tu B’shevat, and to daven for a
beautiful esrog for next Succos. Some say if
a pregnant woman eats the esrog jam she will
have an easy labor.
Many Chassidisha Rabbonim have a peiros
tisch on Tu B’shevat.
The question which needs to be addressed is
where did the custom come from to make a
shehechiyanu on Tu B’shevat? The poskim
say to recite berochos on new fruits, but no
mention is made of a shehechiyanu being
recited. Based on this, why is the wide spread
custom to make sure to recite a shehechiynau
on Tu B’shevat on fruits which no one enjoys.
In addition, in such a case no shehechiyanu
should be recited since there is no real joy that
the fruit was not around all year?
The answer could be based on the Yerushalmi
which says one should eat new fruits once a
year in order to make a shehechiyanu and it
is done on Tu B’shevat because it is the new
year for trees. Those who do not have the
custom to recite a shehechiyanu on any new
fruits do not recite one on Tu B’shevat either.
Although one may have the custom to recite
a shehechiyanu on a new fruit on Tu B’shevat
one must make sure that it is a fruit which one
is allowed to recite a shehechiyanu on. As
mentioned above, no shehechiyanu is recited
on carob- buktzer.