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    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.