Q. BS”D Dear Rabbi, A child took a picture of the the rainbow. Since it is a beautiful natural scene he would like to frame it. Is that ok? Thanks!

A. The Gemara mentions on Chagigah 16-a: “Whoever has no heed for the honor of  his Creator, it would have been better for him had he never come to the world. Rabi Abba said; This refers to someone who gazes at the rainbow”. The Gemara further explains quoting a verse in Ezekiel 1,28, that the appearance of a rainbow on a rainy day is similar to the likeness of the glory of Hashem. Tosafot Rid adds that it is because a rainbow is an inherently ambiguous sight. One cannot clearly see where the band of one color ends and the next one begins. Similarly, one cannot attain a clear perception of the Divine Presence. Other reasons are to be found in Hagadic literature. Furthermore the Gemara there mentions that whoever  gazes at the rainbow it causes his eyes to grow dim. See also Kidushin 40a.

Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 229-1 states that it is prohibited only to gaze intently, but one that happens to see a rainbow recites a Bracha over it. Yalkut Hagershuni (ibid. 2)  indicates that the prohibition applies also to a reflection of the rainbow as seen on the water or a mirror. Rabbi Shlomo Miller Shlit”a expressed that the prohibition would be only on the original natural appearance on a cloud, not on a printed picture, yet it still would not be recommended  to frame it as a picture or art on display.  

Rabbi A. Bartfeld – Revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a