Parshat Noach
In this week's Torah portion we read of the great flood that G-d brought onto the world. The Mabul or flood was a punishment for the moral debasement and corruption of humankind and the animal kingdom. After the flood concluded, Hashem took an oath, swearing to Noach and his sons saying (Bereisheet, Ch. 9, Verse 12-17) "I have set My rainbow in the cloud... I will remember my covenant between Me and you and every living being... and the water shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh".
From the writings of our sages, the implication is, that the rainbow, as beautiful as it may be, is not a good omen. In fact, if the rainbow represents G-d's promise never to again destroy the world, when we see the rainbow, it is because G-d is showing us "the sign" as a reminder to shape up. As such, in the writings of the Talmud (Brachot 59a) when one sees a rainbow they should remember this special covenant by making a special blessing. "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".
Ramban (13th-century Spain) suggests it is a bow (as in a bow and arrow) that is no longer aimed at the earth. The flood was G-d taking aim at the earth, but the bow is now pointing away from earth, and it no longer has a string or arrows. Displaying this disabled weapon, is sort of like a ceasefire — holding your weapon pointing towards yourself, away from your initial target. Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor (12th-century France) explains that it’s G-d showing His Shechina (holy presence). This is based on a verse from the prophet Ezekiel (Ch. 1:28) comparing Hashem's presence to a rainbow. We are also told in the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 35:2) that a rainbow never appeared during certain very righteous generations-such as the times of the righteous King Hezkiah or of the great Kabbalist Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai-when the world clearly did not deserve destruction.
While the Midrashic explanation offers much introspection, how do we understand the rainbow scientifically? Additionally, was the rainbow a new creation after the flood, or something that existed even before the flood?
The popular educational website www.SciJinks.com explains the rainbow in the following manner. "A rainbow is caused by sunlight and atmospheric conditions. Light enters a water droplet, slowing down and bending as it goes from air to denser water. The light reflects off the inside of the droplet, separating into its component wavelengths--or colors. When light exits the droplet, it makes a rainbow".
Many of the classic commentators on the Chumash discuss this question and grapple with fusing scientific and Torah approaches. Rabbi Yosef Caro (15-16th century) posits that rainbows always existed but could not be seen because of the thick rain clouds of the flood. Only after the flood did G-d thin the clouds for humans to be able to see the rainbow. The Ibn Ezra (1089-1164 Spain) maintains that the rainbow was a new creation after the flood. The Kli Yakar (1550-1619 Prague) brings a commentary (possibly the Abarbarnel) who explains that there was a change in the amount of water in the atmosphere, thereby making it possible to see the rainbow after the flood. The Lubavitcher Rebbe (1902-1994 Russia-USA) explains that the flood weakened the nature of the world. This resulted in a number of changes (1) The length of a person's lifespan drastically changed and (2) the clouds became weaker allowing light to shine through, thereby making the rainbow visible.
As everything in Torah must provide us with a lesson in life and coming closer to Hashem, perhaps there is a special message in the mystery of the rainbow. The light and water is always present, all you need is to reveal that light and water and now it transforms into a magnificent display of color. So too, with our children, the good and potential for greatness is always there, we just need to believe in them, support them and help them grow, and we will see the beautiful transformation of our young children into productive and proud Jews.
Shabbat Shalom
No comments:
Post a Comment