#5 - Framing a Picture of a Rainbow

The Gemara mentions on

Chagigah 16-a: “Whoever has no heed for the honor of his Creator, it would have been better for

him had he never come to the world. Rabi Abba said; This refers to someone who

gazes at the rainbow”. The Gemara further explains quoting a verse in Ezekiel

1,28, that the appearance of a rainbow on a rainy day is similar to the

likeness of the glory of Hashem. Tosafot Rid adds that it is because a rainbow

is an inherently ambiguous sight. One cannot clearly see where the band of one

color ends and the next one begins. Similarly, one cannot attain a clear perception of the Divine Presence.

Other reasons are to be found in Hagadic literature. Furthermore the Gemara

there mentions that whoever gazes at the

rainbow it causes his eyes to grow dim. See also Kidushin 40a.

Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim

229-1 states that it is prohibited only to gaze intently, but one that happens

to see a rainbow recites a Bracha over it. Yalkut Hagershuni (ibid. 2) indicates that the prohibition applies also

to a reflection of the rainbow as seen on the water or a mirror. Rabbi Shlomo

Miller Shlit”a expressed that the prohibition would be only on the original

natural appearance on a cloud, not on a printed picture, yet it still would not

be recommended to frame it as a picture

or art on display.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld - Revised

by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a