Repeating Shehechiyanu at Home

Q. If one lit the menorah in Shul on the first night of Chanukah – and therefore recited the bracha of Shehechiyanu in Shul – may he recite Shehechiyanu at home when he lights the menorah there?

A. Although Poskim explain that lighting the menorah in shul is a custom and does not discharge one’s obligation to light at home, with regard to the bracha of Shehechiyanu, the law may be different. The Meiri (Shabbos 23) holds that the bracha of Shehechiyanu is not recited on the Chanukah lights per se; rather it is an expression of praise and gratitude to Hashem for allowing us to reach this holiday of Chanukah. Based on this Meiri, Zera Emes 1:96 rules that if one already recited Shechiyanu when he lit in shul, he does not recite Shechiyanu at home. He has already articulated his gratitude to Hashem on this day; he does not do so again (Igros Moshe OC I, 190 in explanation of Zera Emes; see Shaarei Teshuva 671:11). [Note: This is true only when lighting candles at home only for himself. However, if he is lighting for his wife’s benefit as well, he recites Shehechiyanu, even though he already did so in shul (Mishnah Berurah ibid.).] However, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt”l held that the halacha follows those Rishonim who disagree with the Meiri. They take the position that the bracha of Shehechiyanu is only associated with the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles and not with the holiness of the day. It should therefore follow that since one’s obligation is not fulfilled with the lighting of the candles in Shul, he must recite Shehechiyanu when lighting at home. In light of the fact, however, that lighting in Shul is a fulfillment of the mitzvah of pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle), perhaps even according to those that disagree with Meiri, Shehechiyanu should not be repeated at home.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.