19 Oct The Symbolism of the Rainbow
In Parashat Noach, we are introduced to the rainbow. HaKadosh Barukh Hu promises that He will never destroy the world again and uses a rainbow as a reminder of this covenant. Why was this specific natural phenomenon selected as the symbol and covenant that the world will not be destroyed by a flood? Several commentators seek to explain the symbolism. The Ramban suggests that the rainbow is perhaps symbolic of a backward bow.
When you fight someone with a bow and arrow, you pull back the bow to shoot the arrow. When the parties make peace, they proceed with a backward bow; the bow faces themselves rather than the enemy, symbolizing that they will no longer aim the bow in the other party’s direction. The Ramban suggests that a rainbow, which similarly faces upwards, is a message of peace from HaKadosh Barukh Hu that He will never again destroy the world as He did in the time of the Mabul. Rabbi Avraham Rivlin, among others, provides a different understanding of the symbolic meaning of the rainbow. One of the unique and beautiful aspects of a rainbow is its spectrum of colors. What do all the different colors of the rainbow symbolize? It stands as a lesson to all mankind about the sin of the generation of the Mabul. In that generation, everyone lived for themselves, without considering others or including themselves in the collective.
The Torah tells us that the world was filled with theft, fraud, and injustice. People cared for themselves and lacked concern and compassion for other people and their property. The rainbow symbolizes unity. What a beautiful sight when all of the colors come together and form a rainbow. What a beautiful world it would be if people of different persuasions, of different hashkafot, would respect each other and come together. If we do not want to be deserving of another Mabul, then we have to be a united people. Each person can be an individual, but that individual has to be within the spectrum. The rainbow symbolizes diversity within unity. 36 The midrash tells us that in some generations, a rainbow never appeared because of the special merits of the rabbinic leaders of the generation. For example, in the generation of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, no rainbow appeared.
How are we to understand this midrash? When there’s a tzaddik who binds all Jews together, then there is no need for a rainbow to remind us of our divisions. We are all unified, like the color white. We each need to do our share in being accepting of others, respectful of the ideas of others, and tolerant of differing opinions.
We can live together in harmony, even with opposing views, as long as we can live side by side within the same spectrum. What a truly beautiful and colorful world that would be!
Rabbi Avraham Rivlin, Iyunei Parasha (Old City Press, 2010), 45. 36 Also see the explanation of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, in Emet LeYaakov on Parashat Bemidbar, regarding the flags of the tribes. 37 Bereshit Rabba, chap. 35, sec. 2.
Rav Meir Shapiro asks another question about the rainbow. It took Noach several hundred years to build the ark, so how is it that he was unable to influence even one individual?
Apparently, Noach’s heart was not in the task. He gave up on the people of his generation. When a teacher (rebbe) does not have faith in his students, they will certainly not succeed. The rainbow is a bright burst of color on an otherwise dreary, rainy day. It is symbolic of not giving up on others no matter how dark the situation may seem, If we keep trying, we might be able to suddenly see our influence on our students and witness them beginning to shine. We need to believe in them and encourage them to expose their true colors.