EXTRA · Noach 9:13 · unit 2

Parashas Noach · Rainbow covenant · Passuk 9:13

The Complete Passuk

אֶת־קַשְׁתִּ֕י נָתַ֖תִּי בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן וְהָֽיְתָה֙ לְא֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הָאָֽרֶץ׃

I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.

Source Citation

Berachos 59a — blessing upon seeing the rainbow; prohibition of prolonged staring.

Sefaria — Berachos 59a

E-Daf image — Berachos 59a (size=3)

Shas / HebrewBooks PDF

Chazal

הָרוֹאֶה אֶת הַקֶּשֶׁת בֶּעָנָן… אוֹמֵר: בָּרוּךְ… זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית… וְאָסוּר לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בּוֹ בְּיוֹתֵר.

English: One who sees the rainbow in the cloud… recites: “Blessed… Who remembers the covenant…” And it is forbidden to stare at it excessively.

On the daf: The rainbow is treated as a visual reminder of the covenant; excessive gazing is discouraged because of its association with the likeness of the divine glory (Ezekiel).

Type of Learning

Custom (halakhah of the blessing and the restriction on staring).

What Is Learned

Upon seeing a rainbow one recites the blessing “Who remembers the covenant”; one may not gaze at it at length.

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