The Shehecheyanu: A Blessing to Commemorate Special Occasions
Table of Contents
The Shehecheyanu (שהחיינו) is a traditional Jewish blessing whose purpose is to mark specific appointed times, special occasions, or moments when one experiences something new or unusual. Literally translated, it means “Who has given us life." We recite Shehecheyanu to give thanks to God who gave us life and enabled us to reach this special time.
The Scriptures remind us to praise God for sustaining us and giving us life:
“Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.” (Psalms 66:8–9)
Likewise, the Brit Chadasha reminds us to give thanks to God in all circumstances:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
The Shehecheyanu blessing appears in the Talmud, indicating that it has been recited for over 2,000 years. It is traditionally recited on the following holidays: Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and Hanukkah. It is not recited when commemorating sad events, such as Tisha B’Av.
Other occasions in which it is recited include the birth of a child, the accomplishment of certain mitzvot, eating a new seasonal fruit for the first time since Rosh Hashanah, acquiring a new home, seeing a friend one has not seen for thirty days, arriving in Israel, and many more.
This blessing is remarkably versatile, appropriate for a wide range of life events, from the more important to the seemingly smaller ones.
Below is the original Hebrew text of the Shehecheyanu blessing, followed by the English translation:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam Shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigiyanu lazman haze
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this day.
May this prayer add special meaning to the next biblical holidays and future life events you celebrate.
Share this content with others:
Glossary
Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) means “Lord” and is commonly used in Jewish reading and prayer as a reverent way to refer to God.
Av (אָב) is the 5th Hebrew month, associated with Tisha B’Av and mourning for the destruction of the Temples. Av usually falls around July or August
Brit Chadasha (בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה) means “New Covenant” and refers both to God’s promised covenant of renewal in Jeremiah 31 and to the New Testament writings.
Hanukkah (חֲנֻכָּה) means “dedication” and refers to the festival remembering the rededication of the Temple after its desecration, celebrating God’s faithfulness and the courage to remain faithful. Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah in John 10.
Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה) means “head of the year” and refers to the Jewish New Year, traditionally connected with the biblical Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, יוֹם תְּרוּעָה) and a season of repentance before God.
Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֹת) means “weeks” and often refers to the biblical Feast of Weeks, celebrated fifty days after Passover, when Israel brought firstfruits to God and, in the Brit Chadasha, the Holy Spirit was poured out.
Shehecheyanu (שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ) means “Who has kept us alive” and refers to a traditional Jewish blessing thanking God for allowing us to reach a special moment, season, or celebration.
Simchat Torah (שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה) means “rejoicing of the Torah” and celebrates the completion and restarting of the yearly Torah reading cycle.
Sukkot (סֻכּוֹת) means “booths” or “tabernacles” and refers to the biblical festival remembering Israel’s wilderness journey and God’s faithful presence and provision.
Talmud (תַּלְמוּד) means “study” or “learning” and refers to a collection of rabbinic discussions, teachings, laws, stories, and interpretations of the Hebrew Scriptures and discussions of applying God ’s commandments to daily life
Tisha B’Av (תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב) means “the ninth of Av” and refers to the day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples and other tragedies in Jewish history.
Torah (תּוֹרָה) means “instruction” or “teaching” and often refers especially to the Five Books of Moses. Psalm 119:1 reminds us that those who walk in God's Torah are blessed.
Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning "salvation"
Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר) means “Day of Atonement” and refers to the holiest day of the biblical calendar, focused on repentance, cleansing, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.