Sunday, April 19, 2009

An ode to a rainbow

Well, maybe not an ode; simply a prayer. Now that spring is here, it's rainbow time. I thought you might enjoy this.

When my husband and I went to our accountant to do our taxes, we saw a gorgeous rainbow as we were meeting. Our accountant, an orthodox Jew, pulled out his prayer book and said a blessing (תְפִלָה). How delightful. I came home and looked up the prayer. Here is a little description:

Everybody loves rainbows, a symbol of renewal in nature. While all wonders of nature deserve blessings, rainbows have the power to make us stop and look. And to say a special blessing for the rainbow. It is a sign of the covenant with Noah, but it is also one of the most beautiful of God's creations.

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
zokher haberit vene’eman bivrito v’kaiyam bema’amaro.

And here is the translation:

Praised are you Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the world, Who remembers the covenant, who keeps the promise, and fulfills God’s word.

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