The Beracha Recited Upon Seeing a Rainbow

The Gemara in Masechet Berachot 59A teaches that upon seeing a rainbow one must recite the

Beracha, "Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Ha'olam Zocher Ha'berit, Ne'eman Bi'berito,

Ve'kayam Be'ma'amaro." )אלוקינו מלך העולם זוכר הברית נאמן בבריתו וקיים במאמרו' ברוך אתה ה( This

Beracha thanks God "who remembers the covenant, is loyal to His covenant, and fulfills His word."

During the time of Noach, after God brought the deluge that destroyed the earth, He made a covenant

with mankind to never again bring such devastation to the world. The rainbow was designated then

as the symbol of this promise. Therefore, upon seeing a rainbow, we give thanks to the Almighty for

keeping this promise and maintaining the world despite our unworthiness. We emphasize that God

not only "remembers" and "is loyal to" this promise He also "fulfills His word." Regardless of a

formal covenant, even had He not made a visible sign of this promise, He could be trusted to abide

by His word and to never again bring a deluge upon the earth as He did in the time of Noach.

(Shulchan Aruch 229:1)

One recites this Beracha even if he sees just part of the rainbow, and not the complete arch. See

Birkat Hashem, Helek 4, page 311, note 129.

The Gemara in Masechet Chagiga 16A comments that one should not stare at a rainbow, as it is a

manifestation of the Shechina (the Divine Presence), adding that a person who stares at a rainbow

runs the risk of losing his vision, Heaven forbid. A person should instead briefly look at the rainbow

If a person sees a rainbow, should he inform others about its appearance?

The Mishna Berura (ibid S’K 1) and the Kaf Ha'chayim (ibid S’K 1) write that one may not

inform others of a rainbow's sighting. The appearance of a rainbow is an ominous sign for

mankind, indicating that God's wrath has been aroused and He would destroy the world once

again if not for His promise to Noach. Given the general principal of "Motzi Diba Kesil Hu"

("He who bears bad tidings is a fool"), that one should not convey sorrowful news, these

authorities maintain that one may not inform others of the sighting of a rainbow.

By contrast, Chacham Ovadia Yosef in Yalkut Yoseph, Helek 3, page 626 that to the

contrary, it would be a Mitzvah to inform others of the appearance of a rainbow in the sky.

For one thing, they argue, conveying this information enables people to perform the Mitzva of

reciting a Beracha. Furthermore, given the fact that a rainbow signals divine wrath, the

sighting of a rainbow inspires a person to perform Teshuva and improve his conduct.

Therefore, it is laudable to inform other people of the sighting of the rainbow, so as to enable

them to recite the Beracha and inspire them to perform Teshuva. (Birkat Hshem, ibid page

312.)

Summary: One who sees a rainbow or part of a rainbow recites the Beracha, "Baruch

Ata…Zocher Ha'berit, Ne'eman Bi'berito, Ve'kayam Be'ma'amaro," and there are conflicting

views regarding whether it is a Mitzva to inform others about the rainbow's appearance. One

should not, however, stare at a rainbow; he should instead look at it briefly and then recite

the Beracha.