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The Blessing and Discretion of Rainbows
Jewish sources address the blessing recited upon seeing a rainbow and the halakhic practice of not informing others about a rainbow sighting. The sources derive the rainbow's significance from its role as a divine covenant sign and outline both the liturgical response and the ethical consideration of restraint in publicizing the sighting.
זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָּם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ
The Blessing and Laws of Seeing a Rainbow
Jewish sources establish the blessing recited upon seeing a rainbow—'Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who remembers the covenant'—and discuss related halakhic restrictions. The rainbow is understood as a sign of God's covenant with humanity, and traditional sources address both the proper blessing and cautionary teachings about gazing at it.
זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָּם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ
Kiddush Levana: The Three-Day Minimum
Jewish sources establish the earliest permitted time to recite the blessing over the new moon (Kiddush Levana). While some customs wait seven days from the molad, multiple authorities permit the blessing after three days have passed, provided the moon is sufficiently visible and the blessing is recited before the sixteenth day of the lunar month.
לאחר ג׳ ימים מעל״ע מעת המולד שנהנין כבר מאורה יש לברך עליה