The Blessing "Shehechianu" On Fruit

BLESSED ARE YOU, HASHEM, OUR G-D, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO HAS KEPT US ALIVE, SUSTAINED US AND BROUGHT US TO THIS SEASON.

1. This blessing was instituted to give expression to the joy a Jew feels from the growing of new fruit, and other joyous occasions-as will be explained later [Shulchan Oruch 225]. Even if he doesn't outwardly feel this joy, a blessing is still said because he has internal joy [R' Eliashiv and others].
   
   
2. It's a mitzvah to eat from every new fruit and to make the blessing Shehechianu to give praise and thanks to the Creator for the pleasures he gives us. [MB 225:19] Eating even the minutest portion is enough [MB 225, BH "Pri"].
   
   
3. Even though there is an opinion that making this blessing is optional--one who doesn't make it isn't punished--it is right not to omit it. [MB 225:9]; (R' Moshe Feinstein zt"l [OCH 5,43,5] emphasizes its importance in a generation which is relatively weak in mitzvah-performance).
   
   
4. Although the blessing was originally instituted upon seeing the new fruit, the custom now is to make it upon the first eating, since this is the main time of feeling gladness [MB 225:3].
   
   
5. To avoid interruption between the main blessing on the fruit (bircas hanehenin) and eating, there is an opinion that one should make Schehechianu first and then the regular blessing [MB 225:11 quoting Pri Megadim]. However, the accepted custom is to do the opposite, since the blessing on the fruit is said more frequently than Shehechianu. This is the accepted custom [V'zos Ha Bracha 15,8,5]. (One who has two fruits --one requiring Shehechianu and one not--could seemingly avoid this controversy by making the regular blessing on the fruit not requiring Shehechianu (with intention to exempt the one requiring it) eating from the first fruit and then making Shehechianu on the new fruit. This is true only when the first fruit is more desirable to him. [Ibid].)
   
   
6. If one forgot to make Shehechianu before starting to eat, he can still make it as long as he's involved in the first 'act' of eating the new fruit [MB 225:13]. For example, if one ate a piece and there was still fruit still left in front of him, he can say it until just before finishing [Hashir V'Hashevach maarechet 5]. If one forgot until after he finished, it would be best to bring another new fruit, make the blessing on it and exempt the first new fruit [Caf HaChaim 225:31]. But if he doesn't have a second new fruit he shouldn't recite Shehechianu on the first fruit when eating it again since he finished his first "eating".
   
   
7. If one has several varieties of new fruit in front of him, he must exempt them all with one Shehechianu, since it is wrong to cause blessings unnecessarily. This holds true even if one doesn't want to eat one of these types of new fruit right now [Igros Moshe, Oruch Chaim, Volume One, 87]. One doesn't, however, have to bring to the table a new fruit that isn't there now. It is uncertain whether one should combine the Shehechianu on new clothes or periodic mitzvos with that of new fruit if they are required simultaneously [see Caf HaChaim 225:18 and Responsa Ksav Sofer Oruch Chaim 26 and Minchas Shlomo 20].

1. Shehechianu is made on fruits that grow annually--or even semi-annually [Ramah 225:6]--each time it grows anew [MB 225:16]. (Sephardim make the blessing only the first time on a semi-annual [Caf HaChaim 225:42]).
   
   
2. Cooked new fruit also receives this blessing, even if it's is eaten both raw and cooked.
   
   
3. By the 'letter of the law' one should make Shehechianu on new fruits or vegetables that grow from the ground (as well as fruit that grow from the tree). But the Poskim have determined that those fruits or vegetables, which are not considered 'important' should not receive this blessing since they don't elicit real gladness [Aruch HaShulchan 225:12]. This may be the reason many don't recite a blessing on, for example, a new radish or green beans. On fruits like watermelon, however, one should make Shehechianu [R' Eliashiv, R' S.Z. Aurbach zt'l and others]. (Sephardim make Shehechianu on any new vegetable eaten alone, but not on celery or the like which are used for dipping, unless eaten separately [R' Mordechia Eliyahu].