Rainbows
Are we allowed to stare at rainbows? A worried young lady that wants to know the implications of seeing a rainbow. Is it a bad omen?
Dear Rabbi Brody,
Firstly I thank Rav Arush and you for your wonderful and enlightening articles that have really enhanced my life and my outlook on many matters.
Walking home two days ago after a big storm I saw a rainbow. I remembered to make the correct blessing and stood in awe at the wonder of Hashem’s creations. It is in fact the first time that I have really seen this particular creation.
I am not clear about the implications of seeing a rainbow and am not calm about just leaving things, how do I know what penitence is wanted from me?
Just to clarify I am asking for an opinion and not pre-accepting a religious decision here. Thank you once again, Faye from the UK
Dear Faye,
Thank you for your letter. Allow me to preface with saying that all my answers are given as advice, and not as a binding religious decisions (psak halacha), unless the questioner considers me his or her personal rabbi and spiritual guide.
According to religious law (Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 229:1, based on the Gemora, tractate Chagiga 11b and 16a), one should not stare at a rainbow. Why? Three images bear a reflection of the Divine presence, which we are not allowed to stare at. They are:
1) The face of the Nassi (the president of Israel during the time of the Temple, since a Divine aura emanates from the Nassi’s face);
2) The hands of the priests (Cohanim) when they are blessing the congregation (since a Divine aura emanates from the Cohanim’s fingertips as they are extended while blessing the people);
3) A rainbow, because the rainbow mirrors the image of Divine glory, and staring at a rainbow is tantamount to staring at Divine glory.
Staring at the above three images weakens one’s eyesight. The Torah alludes to the concept of weakening eyesight for anyone who has seen the Divine glory when it talks about Isaac’s near-blindness. The Torah says (Bereishit 27:1), “And his eyes darkened.” Rashi explains from the Midrash that when Isaac was bound on the altar in the Akeda, the sky opened up and he saw all the angels. Also, their tears burned his eyes.
Faye, you can understand why you were so spellbound when you saw the rainbow. By saying the proper blessing immediately (“zocher Habris“) you acted perfectly. Don’t worry, with Hashem’s grace, your eyes will be fine. Next time you see a rainbow though, recite the blessing and look away.
The fact that you saw a rainbow doesn’t mean that you are a sinner; it means that this generation is not worthy of Hashem’s loving kindness, and that Hashem keeps us alive because of his promise (after the flood) that he would not destroy mankind again. The message of a rainbow is designed to stimulate teshuva and self-evaluation, but not to torment ourselves, G-d forbid. Only the generation of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai can get away without seeing a rainbow, for as the Zohar tells us, Rebbe Shimon protected his whole generation from severe judgments.
The rainbow tells us that we all need to be making Teshuva, or penitence. We all have to clean up our gossip, dishonesty, and discord for our fellow human. We all need to make a stronger commitment to The Almighty. Even so, there is an element of a personal message to you also, since everything that happens to us in the course of a day is a personal message from Heaven.
Although I’m not a prophet or soothsayer, nor do I pretend to possess ruach hakodesh, or a holy spirit, I do give advice to people according to Torah, common sense, and the experience I garnered while serving as an understudy to several leading rabbis, such as the Rav Shalom Arush shlit’a and the Melitzer Rebbe shlit’a. You know better than anyone else, Faye, what you need to adjust in your life. By Hashem showing you the magnificence of His Divine presence as bestowed on a creation like the rainbow, Hashem wants you to be a reflection of his Divine presence too. In my humble opinion, that means that you should check your appearance for ways to improve modesty. The more modest a woman is, the more she becomes a vessel for the Shechina, or Divine presence.
Be happy, Faye, that Hashem chose to send you a personal message in such a gorgeous picture postcard. Stay well, G-d bless, and don’t hesitate again to contact BreslovWorld if you have further questions. Yours with blessings, Lazer Brody
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