When Do We Recite the Blessing of Shehechiyanu?

The brachah (blessing) of Shehechiyanu—“Blessed are You… Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time”—is one of the most beautiful in Jewish tradition. We recite it when we experience something joyful and new: tasting a new fruit, buying new clothing, or reuniting with someone we haven’t seen in a long time. It helps us pause, appreciate, and thank Hashem for life’s small and large gifts.

1. On Which Fruits Do We Say Shehechiyanu?

When tasting a new seasonal fruit for the first time that year, we say the brachah of Shehechiyanu before eating it. This isn’t just a custom — it’s a way to show appreciation for Hashem’s creations.

It’s considered a mitzvah to eat a small amount of each new fruit when it comes into season, if possible. Even seeing a new fruit — if you won’t have a chance to eat it — can be enough to recite Shehechiyanu, such as when you see it in someone’s house.

2. If I Have Two New Fruits, Do I Say Shehechiyanu Twice?

If both fruits are in front of you at the same time, one Shehechiyanu brachah covers them both. (The general rule with brachot is that if two items require the same brachah, one brachah is made over both.)

But if you get the opportunity to eat that second fruit on a different occasion, you can recite Shehechiyanu again, even if you already intended to include it earlier.

3. What If I Forgot to Say Shehechiyanu the First Time?

If you ate a new fruit but forgot to say Shehechiyanu, there are two halachic opinions:

• You can recite the brachah the next time you eat that fruit.

• You may not recite the brachah the second time you eat it, as the first moment of joy at its newness has passed.

The accepted practice is to not recite the brachah on a subsequent occasion, since when it comes to brachot, we follow the fundamental rule of safek berachot lehakel—we avoid saying a blessing if there’s uncertainty regarding whether it is required.

What you can do in such a situation is thank Hashem in your own words, without using any of His holy names. Another option is to find another new fruit to say Shehechiyanu on, and have the intention of including the one you forgot. Alternatively, you can listen and reply Amen to a brachah from someone else who’s eating it for the first time, after asking them to have in mind that their brachah is for you, as well.

4. Which Comes First—Shehechiyanu or the Blessing Over the Fruit?

Ideally, you should say the brachah over the fruit (e.g., Borei pri ha’etz) first, then Shehechiyanu, and then take a bite. But if you accidentally say Shehechiyanu first, that’s fine too, as both practices have support in halachah.

5. Do We Say Shehechiyanu on New Clothes?

Yes. When you buy a new piece of clothing that brings you joy, such as a suit, dress, or nice coat, you say Shehechiyanu. While technically the brachah could be said at the time of purchase, the common custom is to wait until you first wear it.

For smaller or less significant items such as socks, undershirts, a kippah, or everday shoes, the brachah is not recited.

6. What About Jewelry, Cars, or Household Items?

If you buy something valuable that brings you genuine joy, like a car, gold jewelry, or a major appliance, you might technically be allowed to say Shehechiyanu. But the widespread custom today is to say Shehechiyanu only over new clothing, and to have in mind to include other new items with it as the case may be.

7. Seeing a Loved One After 30 Days of Separation

If you haven’t seen someone you love (such as a parent, sibling, teacher, or close friend) for over 30 days, and you’re genuinely happy to see them again, according to Sephardi custom you should recite Shehechiyanu. This applies even if you were in touch by phone or letters during those 30 days.

Ashkenazi custom is not to recite the brachah in such cases although (as noted above) it is certainly appropriate to thank Hashem for renewing your contact with your loved one.

8. What If I Haven’t Seen Someone in Over a Year?

If you haven’t seen a loved one in over a year and had no communication with them at all, not even hearing from others that they’re doing well, during that time, a different brachah is made: Baruch... Mechayeh ha’meitim (Who revives the dead).

This is meant to express the deep emotional impact of seeing someone you didn’t know was still alive and well. (If saying this brachah might upset the person, you can say it quietly to yourself.)

If you were in touch by phone or received letters from them during the year, only Shehechiyanu is recited, and only if it’s been over 30 days since you last saw them.

The Joy of the Present Moment

The Shehechiyanu blessing is about more than fruit or clothing or reunions. It’s about gratitude, about recognizing that life is made up of moments, and each one is a gift from Hashem. Whether it’s a new apple, a new shirt, or the smile of someone you’ve missed, Shehechiyanu turns that moment into something holy.

Even small blessings are worth noticing. This is the Torah’s way of teaching us not to let joy pass by without acknowledgement.