The Blessing of Shehechiyanu and a New Fruit or Garment

There is a doubt as to whether the blessing of She'hechiyanu should be recited on the second night. In some regards, the two days of Rosh Hashanah are considered one long day, while in other ways they are considered separate. For this reason, one should prepare a new fruit or new garment in order to be able to say the She'hechiyanu without any question.

• One should bring the new fruit to the table before candle-lighting on the second night. This is in order for the women who light the candles to say the blessing of Shehechiyanu while having it in mind. The women should light immediately prior to Kiddush so that they will be able to eat the fruit soon after saying shehechiyanu. Some say that it isn’t necessary for women to light just prior to Kiddush.
• When a woman lights the candles, she should say the brachot of Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom Hazikaron and Shehechiyanu while having in mind the fruit or new garment that she is wearing.
• When a man makes the Shehechiyanu blessing in Kiddush, he should have in mind the new fruit (which should be in front of him) or a new article of clothing (that he is wearing).
• The Chabad custom is to eat a kezayit (the size of an olive, approx. 1 oz.) of the new fruit following Kiddush and make a Bracha Achrona (after-Bracha) on the fruit before washing for bread. Some are particular to eat less than a kezayit. Others have the custom to eat the new fruit after the Hamotzie.
• If one does not have a new fruit or garment, one should still recite Shehechiyanu.
• A man who lights candles shouldn't recite Shehechiyanu during candle-lighting but rather during Kiddush.
• Those who heard kiddush (and the She’hechiyanu blessing) from someone else need not make a separate Shehechiyanu when eating the new fruit as presumably they had the fruit in mind when listening to the She’hechiyanu blessing.