Shehecheyanu

Recitation

The blessing of Shehecheyanu is recited in thanks or commemoration of:

• Generally, when doing or experiencing something that occurs infrequently from which one derives pleasure or benefit.
• The beginning of a holiday, including Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simhat Torah and Hanukkah, but not holidays commemorating sad events, such as Tisha B'av.
• The first performance of certain mitzvot in a year, including sitting in a sukkah, eating matzah at the Passover Seder, reading the megillah, or lighting the candles on Hanukkah.
• Eating a new fruit for the first time since Rosh Hashanah.

  Normally said before the blessing over the fruit, but some customarily say it afterwards.

  The fruit must be fresh, not dried.

• Seeing a friend who has not been seen in thirty days.
• Acquiring a new home or other significant possessions.
• The birth of a child.
• A pidyon haben ceremony.
• During a ritual immersion in a mikveh as part of a conversion.
• On arrival in Eretz Israel.

Some have the custom of saying it at the ceremony of the Birkat Hachama, which is recited once every 28 years in the month of Nisan/Adar II.

When several reasons apply (such as the beginning of Passover, together with the mitzvot of matzah, marror, etc.), the blessing is only said once.

It is not recited at a brit milah by Ashkenazim, since the circumcision involves pain, nor at the Counting of the Omer, since that is a task that does not give pleasure and causes sadness at the thought that the actual Omer ceremony cannot be performed because of the destruction of the Temple. However, it is recited by Sephardim at the berith milah ceremony.