Dear Rabbi Simon
Please advise re the following scenario:
1st night – you don’t light personally but are present at a lighting and so hear the blessing of shehechiyanu
2nd night – you light personally. Do you say shehechiyanu on the second night?
Matityahu
Dear Matt: If you have in mind to fulfil your mitzvah (of shehechiyanu) and the one who recites the blessing has the same intent, no need to recite שהחינו the second night. If not, then yes, s/he should recite the blessing on the second night. However in fact the onlooker can say the ברכה the first night when he sees the מנורה kindled. He may say שעשה נסים לאבותינו then as well. Of course in a standard situation where he has his own dwelling place for lighting menorah, he will wait to recite all three blessings (the first night) at the time when he lights his own menorah.
Rabbi Rashi Simon