What is Shehecheyanu?
Shehecheyanu is the blessing of gratitude for making it to a special moment: a holiday, a new season's fruit, a new piece of clothing. It's short, joyful, and one of the best known blessings in Judaism.
The blessing
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time.
The name comes from its key word, shehecheyanu, "who has given us life." In three phrases it thanks G-d for giving us life, keeping us going, and bringing us to this moment.
When it's said
- At the start of holidays. Women say it right after the holiday candle lighting blessing. Men hear it or say it as part of the holiday Kiddush.
- The first time each year you do a seasonal mitzvah, like lighting the Chanukah menorah, hearing the Megillah on Purim, or shaking the lulav on Sukkot.
- Eating a seasonal fruit for the first time that season, such as pomegranates, cherries, fresh figs or strawberries. It's said together with the regular blessing on the fruit, preferably before it.
- Wearing significant new clothing for the first time, or other happy new things, according to many customs.
Which holiday candle lightings include Shehecheyanu?
It's said at candle lighting on:
- Both nights of Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- The first two nights of Sukkot
- Shmini Atzeret
- Simchat Torah
- The first two nights of Pesach (Passover)
- Both nights of Shavuot
It's not said on the last days of Pesach (the seventh and eighth nights), because they aren't a new holiday, just the conclusion of Pesach. It's also not said on a regular Shabbat.
The second night of Rosh Hashanah is a special case. Because the two days are sometimes treated as one long day, the custom is to have a new fruit on the table or wear a new garment while saying Shehecheyanu, so the blessing also covers that.
Shehecheyanu on the right nights, automatically
The Shabbat Times home page adds Shehecheyanu to the candle lighting blessing on exactly the nights it belongs, and leaves it off when it doesn't.
Common questions
What does Shehecheyanu mean?
It means 'who has given us life.' The blessing thanks G-d for giving us life, sustaining us, and bringing us to this time.
When do you say Shehecheyanu?
At the start of holidays, the first time each year you perform a seasonal mitzvah, when eating a new seasonal fruit for the first time, and for significant new things like new clothing.
Is Shehecheyanu said on the last days of Passover?
No. The seventh and eighth days of Pesach are the end of the same holiday, so Shehecheyanu isn't said at candle lighting or Kiddush.
Is Shehecheyanu said on Shabbat?
No, a regular Shabbat doesn't get Shehecheyanu.
Sources
- The Shehecheyanu Blessing (Chabad.org)
- Saying Shehecheyanu on Yom Tov Candles (Chabad.org)
- Candle-Lighting Blessings for Shabbat and Holidays (Chabad.org)
- Procedure for Holiday Candle-Lighting (Chabad.org)