Ron

Shalom,

As we read this week’s Parashat HaShavua, Vayeishev, a particularly exciting topic stirs our curiosity: the deep, and profound theme of dreams in the Torah, and how their interpretations related to us in a physical, rational world. This week's Torah portion, filled with stories of Joseph and Pharaoh's respective  dreams, begs us to search even deeper, into the depths of the the spiritual dimensions of dreams in our Jewish tradition.

Joseph's Prophetic Dreams and Guidance he receives from G-d As a young man, living within a blended, and occasionally contentious family, Joseph has dreams about stars, and sheaves of grain bowing to him (Genesis 37:7, 9). These dreams are not mere fantasies, rather, they are prophetic revelations from G-d.  The messages of these dreams shape not only his personal destiny, but they also shape the collective destiny of Klal Yisrael: the entire Jewish people!   Joseph’s dreams remind us of the Talmud's wisdom (Masechet Berachot 55b), which says, "Just as there is no grain without straw, so too there is no dream without meaningless elements." Our Talmudic Sages teach us that within every dream lies a kernel of divine truth.

Pharaoh's Dreams: Insight and Interpretation Similar to Joseph above, Pharaoh had revealing dreams about seven fat cows and lean cows, as well as the healthy and withered ears of grain (Genesis 41:1-7).  These dreams of Pharoah demonstrate the requirement for divine wisdom in learning to interpret a dream's  various signs.  Joseph's remarkable skill as a dream interpreter, as guided by G-d, not only saved Egypt - but it also elevated his own destiny, raising him out of the depths of poverty and despair, to the second most powerful living man of the time. This remarkable turn of events would later be reflected by Rabbi Yochanan in the Talmud  (Berachot 55b), "All dreams follow the mouth”.  This brief, but powerful statement emphasizes the power of interpretation under Divine Providence.

A Window to the Divine: Dreams in Jewish Thought The Talmud (Berachot 55a-57b) shares with us rich  insights into the nature of dreams.  It states, "An uninterpreted dream is like an unread letter."  This  implies that dreams are cryptic messages from G-d – not quite prophecy, perhaps just a fraction of prophecy, yet they await our understanding.  Even more so, the Talmud shares with us the idea that if one sees certain elements in one’s dreams, such as a bird, or perhaps a river, such a dream ought to  move us to bless the Maker of the Universe (Berachot 57b), emphasizing, and ever deepening the connection between our own personal unique dreams with G-d's creation as a whole.

The Rambam (Maimonides) in his legendary book,  Guide for the Perplexed (II:36), emphasizes the Jewish legal difference between dreams that are born of prophecy, as opposed to dreams that are merely formed from our own thoughts.  If we dig deeper and deeper still, the Jewish mystical tradition, especially in the Zohar, views dreams as powerful paths to ever-increasing spiritual realities, divine experiences, and the ultimate wisdom attainable by humankind.

Contemporary Reflections on Dreams Contemporary rabbis, such as Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l, viewed dreams as a mans for G-d to plant the seeds of hope in humankind.  He viewed dreams as a  vision for a better future, to be etched deeply in our hearts.

Applying Dream Wisdom in Our Modern Lives Let us reflect on our own dreams, as we contemplate Joseph and Pharaoh's dreams:  Are we to view them as potential divine messages?  Do our own dreams today guide us on the path toward fulfilling G-d's intended mission for us? Do we view our dreams as Divine elements pleading with us at the very core of our being to move closer to attaining deeper insight, and to attaining even closer connection with Hashem?  The Baal Shem Tov, the revered founder of Hasidism had a saying: "Forgetfulness leads to exile…Yet, remembrance is the secret of redemption." This short, but moving saying reveals much:  it encourages us to remember and to interpret our dreams as paths to lead us closer to G-d.

Friends, let us embrace the wisdom of our tradition more and more, and let us revere even more, the great teachings of our sages. May we be inspired by Parashat Vayeishev to further explore our own dream, according to the holy path of the Torah.  May it inspire us to dream dreams that will elevate our souls to greater levels, may they be compasses that guide our paths, and may they connect us ever more deeply to our own Jewish faith, to our Jewish people, and to fulfilling our divine purpose in life.  Shabbat Shalom!

Brachot,

Ron