Shehecheyanu on Purim
What is the shecheyanu for on Purim night?
The one before the morning megillah reading is (according to the announcement in shul) for the mitzvos done in the daytime. But in the preceding night, what does it refer to?
If it is in commemorating the mitzvah of megillah, then we are not fulfilling that mitzvah until the second reading as (I thought) the obligation is to hear 2 readings.
If, for some unfortunate reason, I am unable to hear a second reading wouldn't a bracha on the performance of the mitzvah have been in vain? And even if it is completed wouldn't there have been a sizable hefsek?
In terms of the daytime blessing, how can it cover multiple distinct mitzvot and what if one ends up not performing them?
1 answer
You've misunderstood the announcement.
All the blessings on the megilla reading are for the megilla reading. Each reading is a mitzva and gets blessings. Some communities view the daytime reading as a higher level obligation and say shehechiyanu on it too. There are no blessings on the other purim commandments.
Why not you ask? Shouldn't we at least say shehechiyanu on those commands? Some later authorities (led by Magen Avraham 692 quoting Shel"ah) suggest saying shehechiyanu on something else (like a new fruit or, commonly and conveniently, a megillah reading) and having those commandments in mind to remove any doubt. That's what the announcer you heard is suggesting you do.
(Interestingly, Shel"ah actually also says to have those commands in mind during the mitzva blessing itself with the intention "...who commanded us regarding reading the megillah [and fulfilling its contents]" but later authorities didn't quote that part and thus it doesn't get as much announcing.)
2 comments
So according to some, each reading gets 3 blessings, and each reading is a discrete mitzvah with its own Shehechyanu at having reached the milestone of fulfilling that mitzvah. But some say that the day reading does NOT get a shehechyanu on it but hedge that position by having in mind time separated potential fulfillments?
@rosends No, those who don't think the day reading obligation is different enough from the night reading obligation to warrant its own shehechiyanu don't say one during the day at megillah reading. If they want to hedge an arguable need to say shehechiyanu on the other day mitzvot they would have to have them in mind at some other shehechiyanu (such as on a new fruit; it's debatable if they can have them in mind during the shehechiyanu at the night time reading, but I guess it can't hurt.)
2 comments
Maybe it's on the day itself. — robev about 2 months ago
Doesn't this question apply equally to the other two blessings before the megilla? — AA about 2 months ago