If your wife gave birth to a boy, say Hatov V’hamaytiv upon hearing the news. She also blesses such. (ShA1 – MB1)
An exception to the above might be in a case that you aren’t so happy about the boy, since you already have many boys and you really wanted a girl. (BeH “zochor”)
If your wife gives birth to a girl, say Shehecheyonu upon seeing your daughter for the first time. (MB2)
A person must feel embittered upon the passing of one of his 7 relatives (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, wife) or of a talmid chochom. We say Dayan Haemmes with the Shem and Malchus. Similarly any other “odom kasher”, although there is a minhag to say the beracha without Shem and Malchus. (ShA2 – MB8)
People are maykil with the reciting of these berachos thinking that they are optional but this is incorrect. (Rama1 – MB7)
If a father passes away leaving an inheritance, the son says first Dayan Haemmes and then Shehecheyonu on the wealth benefit. If there are two sons or more, they each replace Shehecheyonu with a beracha Hatov V’hamaytiv. (ShA2 – MB9,10)
The purchase or building of a new house (new to you) requires a Shehecheyonu. If you have a co-owner, you both say Hatov V’hamaytiv. Therefore, if the congregation built or purchased a new shul building, one representative should stand and be motzi everyone with a loud Hatov U’maytiv. (ShA3 – MB11)
Structural additions to a house also require a beracha. (MB12)
If you buy new (to you) clothes, dishes, tools, or furniture that makes you happy, say Shehecheyonu. If you are very wealthy and nothing makes you happy do not bless. (ShA3 – MB13)
If you have been searching for a sefer and you finally get the chance to purchase it, that happiness requires a Shehecheyonu. (MB13)
Make sure not to postpone the blessing. If you become accustomed to the new item and the simcha wears off you will not be able to say the beracha. (MB15)
Say the beracha at the time of purchase unless the item is not yet usable. An example of this is a suit that needs tailoring. Say the blessing only when you wear it. Recite the beracha Malbish Aroomim first and then Shehecheyonu. If you wear it for the first time in the morning, skip Malbish Aroomim – you will say it in Birkas Hashachar. (ShA4 – MB17,18)
The beracha Hatov V’hamaytiv replaces Shehecheyonu whenever there is a material benefit to more than one person. Therefore if a father buys new clothes for the whole family, he will say Shehecheyonu on his own suit and Hatov V’hamaytiv on their suits since the father is also so glad that his family is well dressed. (ShA5 – MB19)
When you give a gift (not cash which causes embarrassment) to a person, only the recipient receives material benefit. Therefore he only says Shehecheyonu. If new clothes are donated to all of the orphans in the orphanage, each orphan says Malbush Aroomim and Hatov V’hamaytiv. (MB20,21)
If a father buys an item that the entire family will use, he says Hatov V’hamaytiv. (ShA5)
Expensive woolen clothes that are not purchased often need a Shehecheyonu when the “time” comes. But buying clothes that are replaced often are not chashuv. They do not generate the required simcha for a beracha. (ShA6 – MB22,23)
It is customary to bless someone wearing new clothes “T’valleh V’sischadaysh”. Many people are makpid not to bless such if the clothes are made from animal skins. (Rama 6)
The nusach of berachos for the following sightings are listed in Shulchan Aruch. Do not repeat the beracha if you sighted them again within 30 days: – A place that avoda zora has been uprooted, in Eretz Yisroel or in the diaspora. – A crowd of people 600,000 or more, Jews or gentiles. – Sages, Jewish and gentile. – Monarchs, Jewish and gentile, who have the power to sentence someone to death. – Graves of Jews or of gentiles. (ShA2,5,6,7,8,12,13 – MB12)
Beware of attending gentile places of entertainment. If you hear them merry-making, sigh and be troubled over the destruction of Yerushalayim and daaven to Hashem about it. (MB3)
Jewish sponsored theatres are also forbidden because of “moshav laytzim” (a session of scoffers). (MB3)
If you see ministers of a monarch that is able to sentence someone to death, bless the monarch- blessing without Shem and Malchus. (MB12)
It is a mitzva to try to see a monarch even if it means for a cohen to become tomay mid’rabbonon or to take off from learning Torah. (ShA9 – MB13)
When you see a beautiful and well established shul say “Boruch matziv g’vul almana”. This applies anywhere and even nowadays. (ShA10 – MB14)
If you see a destroyed shul say “Boruch dayan haemmes”. (ShA10 – MB14) LAWS OF BERACHOS