Saying Shehecheyanu on a New E-Bike
Question
I just bought myself a new electric bike and I’m very excited about it. My question is, since I bought the bike mainly for transportation, to get to work and not really for enjoyment, do I still say Shehecheyanu? And if yes, then does it make a difference that I already rode it?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
The answer:
As long as you’re still be'simcheh about it, and it’s within three days of first using it, you can still recite Shehecheyanu. (Unlike a new suit, for example, the difference between the two will be explained further on in the answer.) It doesn’t matter what the purpose of the purchase is; as long as it’s new and you are be’simchah about it, you may say the blessing within three days.
The answer explained:
If one forgot to recite Shehecheyanu, HaGaon Rav Fried shlit”a writes that there is a difference between a new suit and, for example, a new bike. After wearing the suit for the first time, one can no longer recite Shehecheyanu. But in your case, after riding the bike, one can still say Shehecheyanu, as long as one is still be'simcheh about it and it’s within three days. The reason for this is based on the Mishnah Berurah, as follows:
משנה ברורה סימן רכה
ואם לא בירך בשעת אכילה ראשונה שוב לא יברך על אכילה שניה וכ"ש שלא יברך על אותה אכילה עצמה אף שעדיין לא נתעכל הפרי
Mishnah Berureh, Siman 225
If one did not recite the bracha (of Shehecheyanu) when eating the fruit for the first time, he may no longer recite it whenhe eats it a second time, and certainly not for the food he already ate, even if the fruit has not yet been digested.
So, the question we can ask is, is this a specific halacha regarding eating, that since the food has already been eaten and is now gone, one can no longer say the bracha?
However, when it comes to a suit or a new item, since the item is still around, perhaps one may still recite the bracha when using it a second time?
We see that the Graz (Seder Birkat HaNehenin, Perek 12, Se’if 4) and the Kaf HaChaim (Siman 223, Se’if Katan 33) write that regarding a new suit, once it has been worn for the first time and then taken off, one may no longer recite Shehecheyanu when wearing it again.
However, the Mishnah Berurah (Siman 225, Se’if Katan 15), when discussing new items, writes that one may recite Shehecheyanu as long as one is still be’simcheh about the new item.
HaGaon Rav Fried shlit”a (Azamrah Lishmecha, issue #306) writes that there may not be an argument between the Graz and the Mishnah Berurah. It could be that the Mishnah Berurah was specifically referring to a new item which one is still be’simcheh when using it another time. However, regarding a new suit, since wearing it a second time is no longer considered anymore as “new,” he would agree that one may no longer recite Shehecheyanu when wearing it again.
Although we do find that the Bi’ur Halacha (Siman 22) writes that if one did not recite Shehecheyanu when wearing a tallis for the first time, he may do so the second time, nevertheless, this would still be considered a safek regarding a suit. Therefore, one should not recite the blessing when wearing it a second time.
However, with regard to a new item, one may still say the bracha even if it has already been used, provided it is within three days of the first use and one is still be’simcheh about using it.
The reason why it has to be within three days of the first usage is that, although concerning Birkat HaGomel the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 119:6) writes that one may recite it even after three days, Shehecheyanu is dependent on one’s personal feeling of simcha. Therefore, it is only considered a simcha as long as one still feels joy from using the item, which we can say is within three days of its first use.
Wishing you all the best.
Source
1. Mishnah Berurah, Siman 225, Se’if Katan 15
2. Seder Birkat HaNehenin (Graz), Perek 12:4
3. Kaf HaChaim, Siman 223, Se’if Katan 33
4. Bi’ur Halacha, Siman 22
5. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 119:6
6. HaGaon Rav Amrom Fried shlit”a, Azamrah Lishmecha, Issue #306