פירוש על ברכות 105:20

WHERE THERE IS AN IMPORTANT PERSON. Sometimes the light in a synagogue is usable for a b’rochoh and sometimes it is not. The Gemara says that the difference is whether there is an important person in the synagogue or not. We can gather from the context in which this is presented that the flame we are discussing was not really needed for light. Sometimes it was lit for additional light and sometimes in honor of a person. If so, that there was an important person in the synagogue then the light was kindled in honor of the important person and not for light, and we may not recite a b’rochoh on that light since its purpose is to honor an important person and not for light. This is Rashi’s explanation. And Rabainu Chananel said the reverse. When there is an important person it was kindled for light and can be used for the b’rochoh and when there is no important person it was lit for the honor of the synagogue and cannot be used for a b’rochoh.

In whose honour the light had been kindled; and since it is not an ordinary illumination it cannot be used for the benediction.