Someone recently mentioned to me that a bracha is made when a baby is born. For a boy, the bracha hatov vehameitiv is said, and for a girl the bracha is shehechianu.
Is the shehechianu bracha for a girl said during the 3 weeks and during the 9 days?
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(Note that the shehechiyaun-for-a-girl thing is pretty controversial in the sources (See this chat). You are welcome to ask accd to that opinion though.)– Double AA ♦Jul 15, 2015 at 16:13
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Why do you not also ask about the bracha for a boy? Why might you think one shouldn't say the blessing during those times?– Double AA ♦Jul 15, 2015 at 16:14
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@DoubleAA I don't ask about the bracha for a boy because I've never heard of a restriction from the bracha hatov vehameitiv during the 9 days.– DanielJul 15, 2015 at 16:16
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Have you heard of such a restriction for Shehechiyanu?– Double AA ♦Jul 15, 2015 at 16:16
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2@DoubleAA Well I've heard of intentionally avoiding things that would cause us to say shehechiyanu. Obviously a baby being born isn't something that can be controlled.– DanielJul 15, 2015 at 16:17
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1 Answer
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 551:17 says:
טוב ליזהר מלומר שהחיינו בין המצרים על פרי או על מלבוש אבל על פדיון הבן אומר ולא יחמיץ המצוה
It is good to avoid saying Shehechianu in the three weeks on a fruit or clothing, but on a Pidyon HaBen he says it and doesn't postpone the Mitzvah.
The Magein Avraham (s.v. ולא יחמץ המצוה) quotes the Maharil as saying also to not postpone the blessing. He distinguishes this from postponing saying the Shechiyanu on the fruit since the practice is to say the Shehechiyanu when first eating the fruit, not just when first seeing the fruit, so this isn't a postponement.
The Ramo adds that if the fruit won't be available after the three weeks (it will spoil) that one even says a Shehechiyanu and eats it. (The Taz and the Magein Avraham there both address the implication that you don't wait until Shabbos according to the opinions that you can say a Shehechiyanu on Shabbos during the three weeks).
So from all of this, the result is that doing something that creates the obligation of Shehechiyanu is avoided if possible, but if the cause of the Shehechiyanu cannot be avoided the blessing is said.
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed puts it all together here (emphasis added):
If a person chances upon a "mitvza" which necessitates the "shehecheyanu" blessing (for example, Brit Milah or Pidyon Haben), he recites the blessing. This is because it was not he that determined the time for the blessing; it was Heaven that granted him with such an opportunity at this time (Shulchan Arukh 551:17).
Likewise, if a person meets a good friend for the first time in thirty days or more, and he is happy to see him, he blesses "shehecheyanu," for if he does not bless immediately, he will lose the opportunity to bless. Similarly, "shehecheyanu" is recited by the father on the birth of a girl the first time he sees the newborn, for if he does not bless immediately he will forfeit the blessing (based on the Shulchan Arukh 225:1 and the Mishnah Berurah 223:2).
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@Daniel, for a baby girl, probably not (see my addition) but even if you could, the Magain Avraham says you don't delay.– YishaiJul 15, 2015 at 16:36
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@Yishai Sure you can. Don't go see her (till Shabbat?). When the Mishna Berura recommended saying Shehechiyanu on seeing a baby girl, he based himself on seeing an old friend. It's the seeing, not the birth, that matters.– Double AA ♦Jul 15, 2015 at 16:40
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@DoubleAA, See the Natai Gavriel who quotes a couple of sources saying you don't delay seeing an old friend to avoid the Shehecheyanu either (and some who prefer that you modify it, but either way you aren't avoiding the meeting).– YishaiJul 15, 2015 at 18:07
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4I think not going to see one's newborn baby is gross overstepping of Tov Lizaher etc.– user6591Jul 16, 2015 at 2:26