Shehecheyanu

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The Shehecheyanu blessing (Hebrew: שהחינו) (meaning "Who has kept us alive") is a common Jewish prayer said at the beginning of holidays and to celebrate special occasions. It is said to be thankful for new and unusual experiences.^[1]

The blessing is said whenever anything that has not happened for awhile is performed. This includes all holidays except Shabbat. It is sung on the first night of Hanukkah, but not for the other nights of that holiday. The blessing is also recited at the beginning of the new year, on Rosh Hashanah, and upon such occasions as affixing a mezuzah, buying new dress-clothes or eating a rare, exotic fruit.

Contents 1 History 2 Text 3 Historic occasions 4 Media 5 References

[edit] History

The blessing has been used by Jews for nearly 2000 years. It comes from the Talmud (Ber. 54a, Pes. 7b, Sukkah 46a, etc.), and it has become the way in which Jews greet any new and exciting moment. While it does not necessarily require an elaborate musical setting, there is a common musical rendition composed by Meyer Machtenberg, an Eastern European choirmaster who composed it in United States in the 19th century.

[edit] Text

Hebrew[2]	English[2]	Transliteration[2]
בָּרוּךְ אַתָה יהוה	Blessed are You,	Baruch atah Adonai
אֶלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הַעוֹלָם	Lord our God, King of the universe,	Eloheinu Melech ha'o'lam
שֵהֵחְיָנוּ וְקִיְימָנוּ	Who has kept us in life, sustained us,	sheh'heh'cheh'ya'nu veh'ki'yeh'ma'nu
וְהִגִעָנוּ לַזְמַן הַזֶה	and brought us to this moment.	veh'he'g'a'nu laz'man ha'zeh.

There are differing customs as to how to pronounce the second last word in the blessing - some say "Lazman", others "Lizman".

[edit] Historic occasions

• The Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel was publicly read in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, before the expiration of the British Mandate at midnight. After the first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, read the Declaration of Independence, Rabbi Fishman, recited the Shehecheyanu blessing, and the Declaration of Independence was signed. The ceremony concluded with the singing of "Hatikvah."

[edit] Media

• MP3 file - Shehecheyanu blessing from VirtualCantor.com

[edit] References