בס"ד
When I started studying religion as a young adult, I heard a rabbi tell an amusing story. He explained that man was created as a vegetarian. One day the Holy One, blessed be He, saw Adam the first man sulking. He asked why are you so sad. Adam explained that he couldn't live on just vegetables, he needed some meat. G-d replied kindly that he should go out and catch a fish for supper. Adam did so but the fish protested saying Adam you are a higher creation how could you kill me for my flesh. With that Adam threw the fish back into the water. Not long after that he was sulking again and G-d asked him about it again. When Adam repeated protest of the fish, G-d told him to take a drink then catch the fish. Adam did so and before the fish could utter a word he was on Adam’s plate. Shortly after that though, Adam was plagued by feelings of guilt. When G-d saw that his favorite creation was sad He understood the reason and told Adam to take another drink and forget about the whole thing. For that reason Jews make kiddush on wine for Shabbos, eat fish, then have a shot of whiskey.
There is an aspect of this in the month of Kislev. Kislev is when the rainy season in Israel really starts going. In the story of Noah, when the Great Flood is over he left the ark and re-entered the world on the 28th of Cheshvan. After that he brought sacrifices to Hashem as an expression of thanksgiving that this ordeal was over and that he had been given the mission of restarting the human race. On the first day of Kislev, God responded to this act by blessing Noah and his family. In it G-d accepts the implications of the fact that man has a streak of evil in him. He then gives man the right to eat meat and says that He will not bring about another flood. The rainbow is designated as a sign of this promise. Therefore when clouds gather and even if there is a terrific hurricane, man should look at the rainbow and be reminded that this is not the end of the world.
It's a mitzvah upon seeing a rainbow to say the blessing, “Blessed are you Hashem our G-d, king of the universe, who remembers His covenant, is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His word”. There are two opinions in the Gemara that one should only glance at a rainbow (see Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chaim 229). Sources are brought but are basically homilies. Modern literature tends to be lenient. For those who wish to spend some time admiring the beauty of a rainbow, it’s possible to be thorny and take the position that the halacha is not like every opinion expressed in the Talmud nor is it always like the Mishna Brura. However the appellation ben Torah (בן תורה - member of the yeshiva community) and Haredi (חרדי, ultra-Orthodox) more strongly rests on those who are meticulous about this.
A hurricane is very destructive but it ends with a beautiful rainbow. The idea is that just like man can be very ugly, he nevertheless has a very beautiful side too. Concerning the ugliness G-d will permit for a while. The wise and righteous on their own will eventually recognize the bad and turn away from it. For the people who cling to evil a calamity will come. The people who cannot live without this evil will be largely destroyed, but others will draw the appropriate lesson. The result will be that all humanity will be better and man will proceed to a beautiful destiny.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טו ניסן תשנ"ח
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