Shehechiyanu on Fruit from a Tree Grafted onto a More Hardy Rootstock

Today it is very common for farmers to graft their trees onto more hardy and suitable rootstocks, which can be from the same or different species. Does this affect the recitation of the blessing of shehechiyanu that one normally would recite on the first fruits of the season that one eats?

The blessing of shehechiyanu is recited the first time each season that one eats from a new fruit. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim 2:58) writes that perhaps it is improper to recite a shehechiyanu on fruit that were grown as a result of transgressing the prohibition of kilayim (mixing species), which includes the prohibition of grafting a tree onto the rootstock of another species. This prohibition applies even outside of Israel, and applies even to non-Jews as well. Although these fruit are permitted to be eaten, still Rav Moshe Feinstein questions whether it is proper to recite the blessing of Shehechiyanu, since the fruit were produced as a result of an aveira (prohibited act). However, if one does not know for sure that the fruit were grown as a result of kilayim, Rav Schachter said that a shehechiyanu may be said.

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.