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Picture of the Day: Rainbow Over Crown Heights

After a brief but forceful downpour yesterday afternoon, a vivid and easily identifiable rainbow formed over the neighborhood.

The rainbow, our sages tell us, is a reminder of the covenant G-d made with Noach after the flood.

From Chabad.org:

After the flood, G‑d promised Noah that He would never again bring a flood that would destroy the world. A rainbow is a reminder of this covenant that G‑d made with Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures. Therefore, upon seeing a rainbow in the sky, we recite the following blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֶלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ

Baruch ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha’olam zocher ha’brit v’ne’eman bivrito v’kayam b’ma’amaro.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise.

On the Mystical Significance of the Rainbow.

Photos by Yitz Feldman

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23 Comments

  • o my

    didn’t anyone learn the lesson already last year that rainbows are not to be shared with bec. it is meant to remind the person who sees it to do tsuva

    • Crown Heights Resident

      Since we usually only see rainbows once every few years.
      Most People don’t remember what the Torah says about rainbows.
      So it was necessary to publish this information from Chabad.org on rainbows

  • To O my (comment #1)

    and what will be so bad if one is reminded to do teshuvah. ????????

    and btw thanks for the reminder ill get on it asap !!!!

  • to no.5

    great idea to do tshuva, definitely
    but this is not my own invention– i learned this in elementary still.
    i am sure you understand the difference of it being hashgocho protis that when one sees it– it is a message for him
    i guess it is hashogocho protis they put it on this site. so everyone s gotta to get on the bandwagon and BRING MOSHIACH!!!

  • Science

    Hate to brake it to yall, but rainbows are as random as earthquakes or volcanos.

  • Friend

    Thanks for posting the pictures of the rainbow. And the other info from chabad.org

    • oh oh

      that means He wants us to know that we need to do teshuva – otherwise He wouldn’t need to show us the rainbow!

  • really to science

    Hashem created science to give us free wil
    to either deny Hashem’s existence
    or to learn Torah and say Hashem created the world

    • replying..

      Your right as we have the choice to choose BUT when people deny g-d forbid Hashem we shouldn’t complain or wonder how come Hashem punishes us? And Hashem has many ways to express Himself that we MUST realize after all who is in control of science? Hashem!

  • Bracha upon Seeing a Rainbow Rainbow

    From: http://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Bracha_upon_Seeing_a_Rainbow

    Upon seeing a rainbow, one should make a specific Bracha enacted for this occasion. The text of the bracha on upon seeing a rainbow is: ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם זוכר הברית, (ו)נאמן בבריתו, וקיים במאמרו. The transliterated text is: Baruch Atta Hashem Elokenu Melech HaOlam Zocher HaBrit, (Ve)Neeman BeBrito, VeKayam BeMaamaro. [1]

    One can make this Bracha one time for every rainfall and not again until the rainbow has cleared up completely and then it rains again. [2]
    Some say that one must see the entire rainbow in order to make the Bracha. [3] Others, however, hold that there is what to rely on if one makes the bracha upon seeing a part of the rainbow.[4]
    One should not stare at the rainbow, rather one should look at it briefly and then make the Bracha. [5]
    One should not tell one’s friend about the rainbow even if one does it in order that one’s friend is able to make the Bracha as it’s similar to spreading bad news. Similarly, one shouldn’t make the Bracha loudly so that one’s friend hears it and recognizes the rainbow. [6]
    If one sees the rainbow at night or through glass one may recite the bracha. [7]
    Sources

    Gemara Brachot 59a, S”A 229:1, Mishna Brurah 229:3 writes that the Tur and Rambam add a vav before Neeman. Vezot HaBracha (pg 156) codifies the text of the Mishna Brurah with a vav before Neeman. Halacha Brurah 229:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 229:1 follow the text of shulchan aruch. The Bet Yosef 229:1 adds that everyone agrees that there is no conclusion to this bracha (unlike longer brachot which have a concluding bracha).
    Mishna Brurah 229:2 writes that even within 30 days one can make the Bracha again upon seeing another rainbow similar to the laws of seeing lightning and hearing thunder where the original sight has ended. BeYitzchak Yikra 229:2 Rav Nevinsal writes that the number 30 used by the Mishna Brurah wasn’t specific since it’s possible to make the Bracha more than once in a day. [See Vezot HaBracha (pg 156, chapter 17) who quotes Mishna Brurah as saying that one can make another Bracha as long as one removed one’s mind from the rainbow. However, the language of Mishna Brurah implies that the rainbow must clear up before one can make another Bracha.]
    Beiur Halacha 229:1 s.v. HaRoeh writes that it’s unclear whether one can make the Bracha for seeing a part of the rainbow or only if one saw the entire semicircle crescent. Vezot HaBracha (pg 156, chapter 17) writes that Rav Elyashiv rules that if one saw the entire semicircle one can make the Bracha even if it’s missing a piece.
    Chazon Ovadia (Brachot p. 473), Halacha Brurah 229:2, Birkat Hashem (v. 4, 4:35)
    Shulchan Aruch 229:1, Mishna Brurah 229:5, Aruch HaShulchan 229:2
    Mishna Brurah 229:1, BeYitzchak Yikra 229:1
    Halacha Brurah 229:3

  • The ignoramus

    A rainbow is a sign that our heavenly father is so troubled by our actions that he wants to destroy us.

    When a rainbow is noticed it is a sign to do teshuva. I have high hope (although some concern) that we will do teshuva but have little hope and am exponentially concerned that we will destroy our selves regardless.

    • Reply to 20

      A rainbow is also a sign that Hashem has confidence in us that we Can & Will do Teshuvah