Seeing Color

Let’s start by explaining how we see color. To see color we first have to see light. The light we see comes from the sun and from light bulbs. Light actually includes all colors of the rainbow. When all these colors join together the light appears white. (You can confirm this by watching how a glass prism splits up white light into different colors.) When this white light hits a surface some of it is reflected back. Different surfaces soak up different colors. The surface of a red apple sucks in all light except for the color red. This color is reflected out and we see red. When there is no light and therefore no color we see black.

But color isn’t only a physical thing; every color has a different spiritual source and therefore means something different: red means danger blue means calmness and white means unity because it joins all colors together. (Ramchal Kinas Hashem Tzevakot. As quoted in an essay by Rav Yehoshua Pfeffer.)

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Seeing Color

Let’s start by explaining how we see color. To see color we first have to see light. The light we see comes from the sun and from light bulbs. Light actually includes all colors of the rainbow. When all these colors join together the light appears white. (You can confirm this by watching how a glass prism splits up white light into different colors.) When this white light hits a surface some of it is reflected back. Different surfaces soak up different colors. The surface of a red apple sucks in all light except for the color red. This color is reflected out and we see red. When there is no light and therefore no color we see black.

But color isn’t only a physical thing; every color has a different spiritual source and therefore means something different: red means danger blue means calmness and white means unity because it joins all colors together. (Ramchal Kinas Hashem Tzevakot. As quoted in an essay by Rav Yehoshua Pfeffer.)