24 Jan TU B’SHVAT KASHRUS QUESTIONS WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT FROM THE OU

Some have the
custom to eat
esrog jam on Tu
B’Shevat. If one
has not eaten
esrog the whole
year, does one
make a Shehechiyanu on esrog jam?

The Mishna Berura (225:16)
writes that one does not recite
Shehechiyanu on an esrog, since the
fruit does not have a season. The
esrog grows on the tree all year long.
Since it does not have a set season,
one cannot say Shehechiyanu. Some
poskim disagree with the reasoning
of the Mishna Berura. However, for
another reason they too conclude that
one should not say Shehechiyanu. As
was alluded to in a previous Halacha
Yomis, the bracha of Shehechiyanu
was instituted primarily to be said
when seeing a new fruit. However,
since most people experience more
joy when they eat from the new
fruit, the custom has evolved to
delay reciting the bracha until we
eat the fruit. However in this case,
the bracha of Shehechiyanu was
already recited on the esrog when we
shook it with the lulav on Sukkos. It
is therefore not appropriate to recite
the bracha again upon eating the
esrog on Tu B’Shevat. Additionally,
the Aishel Avrohom questions if
one may recite Shehechiyanu on
jam, since the pieces of fruit are not
noticeable. The K’sav Sofer writes

that to avoid all questions, it is best
to recite Shehechiyanu on a different
“new” fruit before partaking of the
esrog jam.
Some have a minhag to recite
Shehechiyanu on a new fruit on Tu
B’Shevat. If I need to say Ha’eitz
and Shehechiyanu, what is the
order of the brachos? Do I say the
bracha of Shehechiyanu and then
Ha’eitz, or do I say Ha’eitz and then
Shehechiyanu?
Mishna Berura (225:11) writes that
when one needs to say both Ha’eitz and
Shehechiyanu, the proper procedure is
to first say the bracha of Shehechiyanu,
followed by the bracha on the fruit,
and then to take a bite. This is not
considered a hefsek (break) between
the recitation of the Shehechiyanu and
eating the fruit because the bracha of
Shehechiyanu was instituted primarily
to be said upon seeing the fruit.
Although the common practice is to
delay saying the bracha until we eat
from it, still it is not a hefsek, since the
bracha can really be said on seeing the
fruit.
Mishna Berura writes that alternatively,
one can recite Ha’eitz, take a bite and
then after swallowing the first bite
recite Shehechiyanu. However it is best
not to say Shehechiyanu immediately
after Ha’eitz, as this would cause a
hefsek (break) between the recitation
of the bracha on the fruit and eating the
fruit.

The Kaf Hachaim adopts a different
position. He writes that it is preferable
to recite Ha’eitz followed by
Shehechiyanu, because of the rule
Tadir Kodem (the more common
bracha, in this case Ha’eitz, should
be recited first). Presumably, he is not
concerned that the Shehechiyanu is
a hefsek after Ha’eitz because both
brachos relate to the eating of the fruit.
Many Sefardim follow the opinion of
the Kaf Hachaim.
There is a custom on Tu B’Shevat
to eat fruits, especially those from
the seven species with which Eretz
Yisroel was blessed. Can you please
review the order of the brachos?
If one has an assortment of fruit in
front of them, one should say the
bracha of Borei Pri Ha’eitz on the
most important fruit, and the bracha
will exempt the rest of the fruit that
one will eat. Fruit from the seven
species are considered more important
than other fruit. Among the seven
species olives are considered the most
important, followed by dates, grapes,
figs and then pomegranates. If one has
a whole fruit and a sliced fruit of the
same species, one should recite the
bracha on the whole fruit, but a sliced
olive would come first before any other
species even if it is a whole fruit. If one
does not have any fruit of the seven
species, one should recite the bracha
on the fruit that they usually prefer. If
one does not have any preference, one
should say the bracha on a whole fruit,
if one is available.

Therefore, the order of the brachos is
as follows:
• Olives, dates, grapes, figs and then
pomegranates
• The fruit that one usually prefers
• If one has a whole fruit, this comes
before a pitted or sliced fruit of the
same species.
Are there any special minhagim to be
practiced in honor of Tu B’Shevat?
The Magen Avrohom (131:16)
writes that there is a minhag on Tu
B’Shevat to eat many varieties of fruit.
Some poskim write that one should
especially eat the fruit of the species
with which the land of Israel was
blessed (grapes, figs, dates, olives,
and pomegranates) [Yalkut Yosef –
Minhagei Tu B’Shevat]. The Bnei
Yisaschar (Ma’amer Chodesh Shevat)
writes that there is a minhag to daven
on Tu B’Shevat that one should merit
a kosher and beautiful esrog. Piskei
Teshuvos (288:7) writes that such a
tefilah may even be said on Shabbos.
However, one who sells esrogim
should not say this tefilah on Shabbos,
since his concern is for success in
business and it is inappropriate to
pray for one’s business dealings on
Shabbos.
Some have the minhag to eat esrog
jam on Tu B’Shevat. Mishnah Berurah
(225:16) writes that one does not recite
the bracha of shehechiyanu, even if
one has not eaten an esrog this season.
Since the esrog can live on the tree the
entire year, it does not have a specific
season.