Shechiyanu on the Second Night of Channukah

Question

Last year on the second night of Chanukah, after reciting l’hadlik ner shel Chanukah I accidentally recited the beracha of shechiyanu. After I realized my mistake, I recited she’asah nisim. 

This year I was studying the Gemara Shabbos 23a that says that on the second night of Chanukah we only make two berachos, and there is a question in the Gemara which one to leave out. This got me wondering, since last year I already made two berachos, did I act correctly by reciting the beracha of she’asah nisim afterwards?

Thank you,

M.K.

Rav Zafrani

You are asking an interesting question, but l’halacha you still need to recite she’asah nisim as I will explain. First, we will need to carefully analyze the Gemara in Shabbos that you are citing.

The Gemara says that on the first night of Chanukah three berachos are recited: l’hadlik ner shek Chanukah, she’asah nisim, and shechiyanu. On the second night of Chanukah only two berachos are recited. The Gemara suggests that shechiyanu should be dropped, but then suggests that maybe she’asah nisim should be dropped. The Gemara concludes that there was a miracle every day, implying that shechiyanu should be dropped.

If we analyze this Gemara there is a very strong question we can ask. As Rashi points out, the beracha of shechiyanu is generally only recited once on the first day of a chag. Why should the Gemara even consider reciting shechiyanu every day of Chanukah?

The answer can be found in a number of Rishoinim (Riff, Smag, Positive Mitzvos D’rabbon 5, Abudraham) who write that Chanukah was established as eight yomim tovim of hallel and hodayah. From the wording of these Rishonim we see that Chanukah is actually eight separate yomim tovim and that there would be room to recite schechiyanu every day. 

If this is the case then why do we only recite shechiyanu one day? The Gemara says that there was a miracle every day; but how does that answer the question?

Rav Shlomo Kluger (Chachmas Shlomo 676,2) explains that there is an intrinsic difference between the first day of Chanukah and the rest of the days. The first day of Chanukah commemorates the miracle of the victory of the Chashmonayim over the Yevanim, as the name of Cnaukah implies Chanu chuf-heh, they rested on the 25^th of Kislev. That victory is considered to be one miracle and therefore as Rashi explains, we can recite shechiyanu at the beginning of Chanukah and we have fulfilled our obligation.

The rest of Chanukah commemorates the miracle of the oil. As far as that miracle was concerned, every additional day was another miracle. Therefore, we recite the beracha of she’asah nisim every night of Chanukah (Shulchan Aruch 676,2). In order to differentiate between these two miracles, Chazal only established shechiyanu on the first day of Chanukah.  

Once we have understood the Gemara we can now answer your question. Although the Gemara suggest reciting shechiyanu every night of Chanukah, the conclusion of the Gemara is that this beracha was only established one day at the start of Chanukah. Since these berachos refer to two different miracles, and are two different takanos, we cannot exempt one with the other. 

It is interesting to note that the Maharashal (cited in Be’er Hetiv 676,13) once purchased a new silver menorah on the second night of Chanukah and recited shechiyanu over the purchase of a new item before lighting it. We see that even though the Gemara rejects reciting shechiyanu every night of Chanukah, but the beracha is connected enough to Chanukah that the Maharashal recited the beracha before lighting the menorah (Steipler as cited in Shalmi Todah Chanukah 9,4).  However, l’halacha most poskim do not accept this ruling, and similarly in your case, if someone accidentally recited shechiyanu on the second night they would still need to recite she’asah nisim afterwards. 

Thank you for that fascinating question, and I give you a beracha that you and your family should have a Chanukah filled with simcha.