YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
Our fascinating Sedra includes the description of the rainbow. After the Flood, the Creator promised that in spite of how man might sin, He would never again make a flood that would destroy the world. He created the rainbow as a sign, a reminder of this covenant He made with the world.
"I have put my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Myself and the world. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, and I will remember the covenant between Myself and yourselves and all living souls, and there will never again be a flood to destroy all life."
The rainbow - a phenomenon combining clouds and colors - is both a positive and negative sign all at once. On the one hand, it indicates that we as a People have sinned; indeed, in generations where there were particularly righteous individuals, like King Chizkiyahu, Rav Shimon bar Yochai and Rav Yehoshua ben Levi, no rainbow ever appeared! On the other hand, it indicates that G-d remembers His promise and is forgiving us. Because of this "mixed blessing," while we do look at the rainbow, we don't keep staring at it. We then say a bracha (combining two Talmudic opinions):
Blessed are You, G d, Ruler of the world, who remembers the covenant, who is faithful to His covenant, and who stands by His word.
There are countless messages to the rainbow: Its many colors may represent the spectrum of people and personalities, all of whom are necessary in G-d's world; it combines light (fire) and water, bringing opposites together; and it is like a bow, but pointing skyward, as if Hashem is saying, "I will absorb the arrow and you will be safe!"
Noting that the rainbow is only half a circle, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin comments: "The rainbow is a half-picture, lacking a second half to complete the circle of wholeness. God can pledge not to destroy humanity, but since God created humanity with freedom of choice, God cannot guarantee that humanity will not destroy itself. That is OUR challenge!"
The Corona crisis is the perfect opportunity to exercise our power of choice and "complete the circle" by following safe rules and protecting one another. What a great privilege we have to join forces with the Almighty and work together to color our world.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
