shehecheyanu

Shehecheyanu is a Jewish blessing said to celebrate joy, novelty, or arrival at a special time. It is commonly recited when experiencing something new or for the first time in a given season, and it appears in Jewish liturgy and practice across a range of joyous occasions.

The blessing in Hebrew is: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higianu lazman hazeh. The English rendering is: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

Common occasions for reciting shehecheyanu include tasting a fruit for the first time in its season, acquiring new clothing or other items for a festival or special event, and celebrating personal milestones such as weddings or the birth of a child. Many communities also say the blessing on the first night of certain holidays or at other moments of renewed joy, especially when reaching a particular time or season after a period of anticipation.

Origin and use: shehecheyanu represents gratitude for reaching a moment worthy of celebration. It is discussed in rabbinic literature and incorporated into later Jewish legal codes and prayer books. As a general rule, the blessing is used when the joy is significant and tied to a specific time or season, and it may be recited again if another appropriate occasion arises.