If you open up a siddur, you will find that there are up to three blessings to be recited before performing the mitzvah of lighting candles on the first night of Hanukkah. The first blessing states that we have been commanded to kindle the Hanukkah lights and is clearly recognizable as a birkat hamitzva. The third blessing, only recited on the first night, is also recognizable as the blessing of shehechiyanu. The second blessing, though, is unusual. Before almost all mitzvot, only a birkat hamitzvah is recited and sometimes a shehechiyanu. Why then does the mitzvah of Hanukkah lights require an additional blessing? The gemara below describes the purpose of the second blessing.

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