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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.