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Does one make a Shehecheyanu on the first time they ever said a Shehecheyanu in their life?

If so, then does that recursively require a Shehecheyanu, infinitely?


This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.

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    Infinitely recursive requirements are common, based on the principle of "אם כן אין לדבר סוף" ("Indeed, the matter has no end", e.g. Yoma 2a).
    – Fred
    Feb 27, 2020 at 17:32

4 Answers 4

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Just as this question is resolved in regards to tongs, so too it is resolved for Shehecheyanu; G-d must have created the first Shehecheyanu, to avoid this question!

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  • Do we only say a shehecheyanu on the first time ever, for anyone?
    – magicker72
    Feb 28, 2020 at 4:09
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We learn from the extra י in שהחיינו that you only need to say it up to ten times (See BK 39, 52).

There’s a good Rav Elchonan on this I saw, I’ll copy it below.

מיהו לשיטת הריטב״א [ובאמת דפליג ארבו] יש להביא הך דמ׳ טענות דאמר רב אמר רב יהודה לעולם יעשה אדם עד עשרה ע״כ הרי לך שמש״כ הריטב״א דאפשר לסמוך על רש״י בענין עשיית זוגות שהוא חובה דאורייתא אין זה רק לגבי מצות דאורייתא דוקא אבל כל דאתי מרבנן כלאחר יד הוא ע״ש היטב הדק לכן צל״ע אי אמרינן בהך דרשה דב״ק דיו״ד בשהחיינו הוא בכלל זוגות כי מ״מ הוא ה׳ זוגות ממש

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The answer is yes, but not because of the exact reason that you are thinking. If I understand your question, you think that one should say Shehecheyanu because each time is the first time you're saying it.

In actuality, the end of the blessing says,

והגיענו לזמן הזה Who has brought us to this time.

When you say the first Shehechiyanu, that time has past. A second later is a new time, requiring you to say a new bracha to commemorate this time. In short, you should be saying Shehechiyanu constantly throughout your life.

Granted, since it takes a few seconds just to say the blessing, itself, you won't be able to account for every moment of your life, so, there will be numerous instances that you won't thank God for by saying this blessing. That's fine, because you're thanking God in many other ways in your life, anyway.

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    על כל נשימה ונשימה שאדם נושם צריך לקלס לבוראו
    – DonielF
    Feb 27, 2020 at 19:58
  • I understand that, due to the concept you described, some women have a custom to light an extra shabbos candle for each shehechiyanu that they were unable to say that week. Many Rabbonim have said it is not necessary, and some have explicitly said it us assur due to the sakana it creates. But it remains a machlokes gedolim. [Comment because I am not able to find all the sources right now. Will try to find them on 30 Iyar, b"n.]
    – Damila
    Feb 27, 2020 at 20:35
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Since you're not sure, we have to say no, because: ספק ברכות להקל.

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