Shehecheyanu on a New Tallis - Understanding the Difference Between a Tallis, a Suit, and a New Fruit

Hi,

I just bought a new Tallit, and I would like to know what is the correct order, do I first wear it and then say shecheyanu or do I first say the bracha and then wear it? 

Thank you for your question.

The answer:

With regard to a Tallis (unlike a new suit, as the difference will be explained further on in the answer), one should first recite the blessing of lehisatef, and then Shehecheyanu, before wearing it.

The answer in depth:

It is important to clarify the difference in halacha between wearing a new suit, a tallis, and even before eating a new fruit. The distinction between them, and the reason for it, will Be’ezrat Hashem be explained.

The sefer Birchat Habayit (Sha’ar 24, Ot 39, and in Be’ur 37) writes that one should recite Shehecheyanu before wearing a new suit, since we have a rule that one should say the bracha “over le’asiyatan”. If one did not recite it beforehand, he may do so immediately after putting it on.

HaGaon Harav Amrom Fried shlit”a writes (Azamrah Lishmecho, Issue #306) that this requires further analysis, since we find that the halacha of reciting a bracha over le’asiyatan applies only to blessings like birkat hamitzvot. However, birchat hashvach, we do not find such a halacha, and Shehecheyanu is considered a birchat hashvach. (See Rishonim on Pesachim 7a.)

We do find in the sefer Shulchan Aruch HaRav (Luach Birkas HaNehenin, Perek 11, Se’if 19; Seder Birkas HaNehenin, Perek 12, Se’if 4) that one should recite Shehecheyanu immediately after putting it on.

שולחן ערוך הרב לוח ברכת הנהנין פרק יא

וכל מקום שמברך כשקונה כלים חדשים שהחיינו או הטוב והמטיב מברך אחר שלבשו מיד ואם לא בירך יכול לברך כל זמן שלא פשטו 

Shulchan Aruch HaRav – Luach Birkat HaNehenin, Perek 11

Whenever one recites a bracha upon purchasing new clothing, whether Shehecheyanu or HaTov VeHaMeitiv,  the bracha should be said immediately after putting them on for the first time.

If one did not recite the bracha then, they may still do so as long as they have not yet removed the garment.

שולחן ערוך הרב סדר ברכת הנהנין פרק יב

יש אומרים שלא לברך בשעת הקנין אלא אחר שלבשו מיד 

Shulchan Aruch HaRav – Seder Birkat HaNehenin, Perek 12

Some say that one should not recite the bracha at the time of purchase, but rather only immediately after putting on the new garment.

Based on this, lehalacha, HaGaon HaRav Amrom Fried shlit”a writes that one should first put on the suit and then recite Shehecheyanu.

However, circling back to your question, the halacha regarding a tallis is an exception to this rule, and I will be’ezrat Hashem explain why.

We find that the GRA”Z writes in Siman 22 that one should recite the bracha before wearing the tallis, which may seem contradictory to what he wrote earlier regarding a suit.
 HaGaon HaRav Fried shlit”a explains that the reason for this psak concerning a tallis is as follows:

Since one must recite the bracha of lehisatef before wearing the tallis as this is a birchat hamitzvah and must be said over le’asiyatan (before performing the mitzveh), we therefore recite Shehecheyanu at that same time, so that both brachot are said together.
 (The correct order is to first say lehisatef, followed by Shehecheyanu. This differs from the case of a new fruit, where the order may vary depending on your custom. However, when putting on a new tallis, this is the proper order, see Mishnah Berurah, Siman 22, Se’if 3.)

We find a similar concept with regard to eating a new fruit, since one must recite the birchat hanehenin before eating, one also recites the Shehecheyanu at that same time, before eating, so that both brachot are said together.

The order of these two brachot when eating a new fruit depends on one’s minhag:

According to Sefardim, first recite boreh pri ha’eitz, then Shehecheyanu.

Among Ashkenazim, some follow the same order as the Sefardim, while others have the custom to first say Shehecheyanu, and only then birchat hapeirot.

One should follow his father's minhag.

If one does not have a specific minhag, then one should first recite Shehecheyanu and then birchat hapeirot.

Wishing you well

     Birchat Habayit, Sha’ar 24, Ot 39; Be’ur 3   

     Azamrah Lishmecho - HaGaon HaRav Amrom Fried shlit”a, Issue #306

     Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Luach Birkas HaNehenin, Perek 11, Se’if 19

     Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Seder Birkas HaNehenin, Perek 12, Se’if 4

     Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Siman 22

     Mishnah Berurah, Siman 22, Se’if 

     Rishonim Pesachim 7a