What is the difference between the blessing Shehechiyanu and Ha-Tov Veha-Metiv in that if one purchased (for example) a new car and that if the car was for the purchaser solely he would say shehchiyanu, but if the car was for the entire family he would say HaTov VehaMetiv or if a baby girl is born a shehchiyanu is made, but if a boy is born the blessing HaTov u’Metiv (or it might be the other way around)?
Please send sources.
Thank you.
Answer:
The blessing of Ha-Tov Veha-Meitiv is recited where the benefit is for many; the blessing of Shehecheyanu is recited over personal joy, which does not involve others. This distinction is drawn from the meaning of the words Ha-Tov Veha-Meitiv, which is interpreted to mean, tov for me, and metiv for others.
Based on this principle, for the birth of a boy, one recites ha-tov veha-metiv, because it makes one happy, and one’s wife is also happy — the joy is for both.
For a girl, one does not recite ha-tov veha-metiv, because Chazal considered the joy to be less. However, the Mishnah Berurah explains that one recites shehecheyanu, because it is no less than a joyous meeting for which shehecheyanu is recited.
See Berachos 59b; Beis Yosef and Shulchan Aruch 233.
