Shehechiyanu on Esrog Jam

Q. Some have the custom to eat esrog jam on Tu B’Shevat. If one has not eaten esrog the whole year, does one make a Shehechiyanu on esrog jam?

A. The Mishna Berura (225:16) writes that one does not recite Shehechiyanu on an esrog, since the fruit does not have a season. The esrog grows on the tree all year long. Since it does not have a set season, one cannot say Shehechiyanu. Some poskim disagree with the reasoning of the Mishna Berura. However, for another reason they too conclude that one should not say Shehechiyanu. As was alluded to in a previous Halacha Yomis, the bracha of Shehechiyanu was instituted primarily to be said when seeing a new fruit. However, since most people experience more joy when they eat from the new fruit, the custom has evolved to delay reciting the bracha until we eat the fruit. However in this case, the bracha of Shehechiyanu was already recited on the esrog when we shook it with the lulav on Sukkos. It is therefore not appropriate to recite the bracha again upon eating the esrog on Tu B’Shevat. Additionally, the Aishel Avrohom questions if one may recite Shehechiyanu on jam, since the pieces of fruit are not noticeable. The K’sav Sofer writes that to avoid all questions, it is best to recite Shehechiyanu on a different “new” fruit before partaking of the esrog jam.

____________________________________________________

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.