Daily Halacha - Is it permissible to speak after lighting the first candle?

Is it permissible to speak after lighting the first candle?

Ideally, it is best not to speak about matters unrelated to the lighting until one has completed lighting all the candles. If one speaks about matters related to the lighting, there is room for leniency. The custom is that after lighting the obligatory candle, we recite "Hanerot Halalu" [Yalkut Yosef Chanukah, p. 426].

If someone lit Chanukah candles in the synagogue and then lights again at home, are they permitted to recite the blessings again?

One who lit candles in the synagogue with a blessing and then lights again at home should recite all three blessings again if family members are present and need to fulfill their obligation. However, if one is lighting alone at home, they should only recite the blessing of "Lehadlik ner Chanukah" (Chazon Ovadiah p. 54).

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