Interpreting Dreams

Art: Sharon Tomlinson

written by Rabbi Chanan Morrison

The Sages made a remarkable claim regarding dreams and their interpretation: "Dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation" [Berachot 55b]. The interpreter has a key function in the realization of a dream. His analysis can determine how the dream will come to pass!

The Talmud substantiated this statement with the words of the chief wine-butler: "Just as he interpreted, so (my dream) came to be" [Gen. 41:13].

Do dreams foretell the future? Does the interpreter really have the power to determine the meaning of a dream, and alter the future accordingly?

The Purpose of Dreams

Clearly, not all of our dreams are prophetic. Originally, in humanity's pristine state, every dream was a true dream. But with the fall of Adam, mankind left the path of integrity. Our minds became filled with wanton desires and pointless thoughts, and our dreams became more chaff than truth.

Why did God give us the ability to dream? A true dream is a wake-up call, warning us to correct our life's direction. Our eyes are opened to a vivid vision of our future, should we not take heed to mend our ways.

To properly understand the function of dreams, we must first delve into the inner workings of Divine providence in the world. How are we punished or rewarded in accordance to our actions?

The Zohar [Bo 33a] gives the following explanation for the mechanics of providence: The soul has an inner quality that naturally brings about those situations and events that correspond to our spiritual and moral level. Should we change our ways, this inner quality will reflect that change, and will lead us towards to a different set of circumstances.

Dreams are part of this system of providence. They constitute one of the methods utilized by the soul's inner quality to bring about the appropriate outcome.

The Function of the Intepreter

But the true power of a dream is only realized once it has been interpreted. The interpretation intensifies the dream's impact. As the Sages taught, "A dream not interpreted is like a letter left unread" [Berachot 55b]. When a dream is explained, its images become more intense and vivid. The impact on the soul is stronger, and the dreamer is more primed for the consequential outcome.

Of course, the interpreter must be insightful and perceptive. He needs to penetrate the inner message of the dream, and detect the potential influences of the soul's inner qualities that are reflected in the dream.

Multiple Messages

All souls have imperfections. All souls contain a mixture of good and bad traits. A dream is the nascent development of the soul's hidden traits, as they are beginning to be realized. A single dream may contain multiple meanings, since it reflects contradictory qualities within the soul.

When the interpreter gives a positive interpretation to a dream, he helps develop and realize positive traits hidden in the soul of the dreamer. A negative interpretation, on the other hand, will promote negative traits. As the Zohar [Miketz 199b] admonishes:

"A good dream should be kept in mind and not forgotten, so that it will be fulfilled. ... Therefore Joseph mentioned his dream (to his family), so that it would come to pass. He would always anticipate its fulfillment."

It is even possible to interpret multiple aspects of a dream, all of which are potentially true. Even if they are contradictory, all may still be realized! Rabbi Bena'a related that, in his days, there were 24 dream-interpreters in Jerusalem. "Once I had a dream," he said, "and I went to all of them. No two interpretations were the same, but they all came to pass!" [Berachot 55b]

Dreams of the Nation

These concepts are also valid on the national level.

Deliverance of the Jewish people often takes place through the medium of dreams. Both Joseph and Daniel achieved power and influence through the dreams of gentile rulers. The Jewish people have a hidden inner potential for greatness and leadership. As long as this quality is unrealized, it naturally tries to bring about its own fulfillment — sometimes, by way of dreams.

When a person is brought before the Heavenly court, he is asked, "Did you yearn for redemption?" [Shabbat 31a] Why is this important? By anticipating and praying for the redemption, we help develop the inner quality of the nation's soul, thus furthering its advance and actualization.

Pre-Moshiach Signs

H/t Sherry

Rabbi Nochum Schapiro clarifies the signs of the generation right before the coming of Moshiach. 

Purple Reigns

Last night in Jindalee, Perth, Western Australia

If the images don't look real, it's because they are showing planets from the passing solar system. There are purple images uploaded from dozens of different group members.   Unreal is the new normal.  

Purple always means the planet Atu.

Original uploads can be found on FB on the group "Hey Perth" and "Severe Weather Western Australia".

Blue patch is sky, planets appear as deep blue/grey 

These two photos below just show the skies turned purple, letting us know that Atu is close by.

4 Shevat: Yarzheit Baba Sali

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah - The Baba Sali

Born: Tafillalt, Morocco,1890

Died: 4 Shevat, Israel, 1984

Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah was of a well-known rabbinical dynasty. His grandfather was the famous tzaddik, Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeirah. He had great skill in Talmudic interpretation and many of his halachic decisions were accepted and took root among his followers. He was regarded as someone who possessed the Ruach Hakodesh or "Divine Spirit".

Although still very young, people flocked to R' Yisrael for blessings for their parnassa (income), family, and health. Consequently he became known as "Baba Sali," (our praying father) because of the prayers that he would invoke on behalf of those who sought out his guidance.

One day, young Yisrael's father told him, "My child, you have a great power to bless people which you cannot measure. Your words can bring great help to men. From now on, you must use this power to say good things about others and to bless them."

Young Yisrael gave his word. Soon it became known that the blessings of this young child brought miraculous results. He became famous as Baba Sali. A master of the Kabbalah and a great Torah Sage, he took over his father's position as head of the yeshiva and Rabbi of the community. Although he regularly gave many lectures in Torah and kabbalah, he did not permit his students to write them down because he wanted his scholarship to remain unknown. Nevertheless, his fame as a holy man and a righteous Tzaddik continued to draw Jews to him from all over. Even Arabs came to receive his blessings and the coins he gave for charity.

At 19 he was inducted as the Rosh Hayeshiva, after his father's death. After an extended one year trip to Eretz Yisrael he returned, and was compelled to take the position of Rav of the community after the murder of his brother by an Arab. He gave daily lectures, served as a judge in the beit din (rabbinical court), and set the tone for the kehilla. The community appreciated that nothing escaped his holy, penetrating eyes. From throughout Morocco, people converged on his home for his blessings, his counsel, and his encouragement.

In 1964 when Baba Sali noted that much of Moroccan Jewry had emigrated to Eretz Yisrael, he followed them to fulfill his dream of settling there. Baba Sali chose Yavne as his home because many of his followers had settled there.

In 1970 he moved to Netivot where he was steadily visited by Chassidim, Ashkenazim and Sephardim who sought his unique counsel. He stressed emunah (faith), humility, ahavat Yisrael (love of fellow Jews) and kiyum hamitzvot (fulfillment of mitzvot). His phenomenal memory allowed him to access information at will, whether it dealt with law, Talmud, Kabbalah,etc.

He was very humble and did not want to attract attention, however, his prophetic powers and his miraculous prayers soon became renowned. Thousands of Jews from all over the world would come to seek his advice and blessings for children, health, and livelihood. Baba Sali was very close to other great Torah scholars, especially the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whom he referred to as "the Great Eagle in the Heavens." He strongly encouraged the Rebbe's Mitzvah campaigns, especially urging young girls to light candles for Shabbat and Yom Tov.

*****************************************

Young and old, men and women, observant and secular, Sephardim and Ashkenazim of every stripe, all streamed to the door of the great kabbalist and tsaddik, Baba Sali, in Netivot, seeking his blessing and help. Everyone, without exception, held him in the highest esteem.

Once a man from Holon, Eliyahu, was scheduled to have his legs amputated. His spinal cord had been damaged by a bullet in the Yom Kippur War. He had already spent much time in the hospital, and so was reconciled to his fate. The procedure was to take place on Friday.

That Thursday, an elderly woman acquaintance suggested that he receive a blessing from Baba Sali before the operation. She said that she knew of someone who had been paralyzed, yet was healed through Baba Sali's blessing. Although Eli was not at all observant, he decided to try it anyway, in desperation. Maybe, maybe....

It would have been impossible to get permission to leave the hospital the day before the operation, so Eli snuck out. He didn't even disclose his intention to see Baba Sali to his concerned family.

Eli sat on a chair in the waiting room near the entrance to the tsaddik's room. After many hours, finally his turn came. The custom was, before anything, to approach Baba Sali on his couch and kiss his hand, but because of the advanced thrombosis of his legs and the crippling pain that accompanied it, Eli was unable even to rise to enter the room.

Following Baba Sali's instruction, Rabbanit Simi, his wife, approached Eli and asked, "Do you put on tefillin?" Do you keep Shabbat? Do you say blessings?

"No," admitted Eli, and burst into sobs.

Baba Sali seemed to be moved by Eli's suffering and his sincerity. He said to him, "If you do my will and observe the Shabbat and repent completely, then G-d, too, will listen to my will."

With great emotion, Eli promptly cried out, "I accept upon myself the obligation to observe the Shabbat in all its details. I also promise to do full tshuvah, to 'return' in repentance all the way."

At Baba Sali's directive, Eli was served tea. After he drank it, the Rabbanit suggested that being that the Rav had blessed him, he should try to get up, in order to go and and kiss the Rav's hand.

After much effort and pain, Eli managed to rise. He couldn't believe it-his legs were obeying him! Shakily, he walked over to Baba Sali and kissed his hand! By then nearly delirious with shock and joy, he began to thank Baba Sali profusely. The Rav interrupted him, saying with a smile, "Don't thank me. Just say: 'Blessed are those who sanctify His name publicly!'"

As if in a dream, Eli stumbled out the door and descended the stairs. He experimented, walking this way and that. He had to know: Was he really awake? Could this truly be happening? With each step, his legs felt better.

On his "new" legs, he went over to Yeshiva HaNegev, not too far from the home of Baba Sali. When the students realized they were seeing the results of a miracle that had just occurred, they surrounded Eli with happy dancing and singing, and words of praise and gratitude to G-d.

Rejoicing in his new-found ability to walk, Eli returned to the home of Baba Sali to say goodbye properly and to thank him again. He also expressed his fear that his legs would relapse to their previous weakness and disease. Baba Sali calmed him, saying cheerfully, "Don't worry. In the merit of your oath to 'return' and repent, and especially that you promised to observe Shabbat according to its laws, which is equal to all the commandments, G-d has done this miracle and nullified the decree against you. Now it is up to you to fulfill your words."

Leaving Baba Sali's house again, Eli telephoned his mother. "I'm all better!" he shouted, without explanation. She figured that fear of the surgery had caused him to loose touch with reality. "Are you coming home?" she asked with concern. "Or will you go straight to the hospital?"

Eli then told her what he had promised Baba Sali, the blessing that he had received from the tsaddik, and the miraculous improvement that had already occurred. As soon as he hung up, he called his doctor at Achilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and informed him of his cure. The doctor told Eli to be back at the hospital the following day, and to "stop acting crazy!"

Eli did go to the hospital the next day. The doctor was barely able to accept the evidence of his eyes. After a few days and many tests, Eli was released. The first thing he did was to return to Netivot, to thank Baba Sali again. The Rav requested of his household that a seudat hoda'ah, a meal of thanksgiving to G-d in honor of the miracle, be prepared and served. At the end of the meal, Baba Sali blessed a bottle of water and told Eli to deliver it to the hospital so that his doctor could drink l'chaim from it. "And tell him," added Baba Sali, "not to be so hasty to cut off legs."

Baba Sali's gabbai (attendant) during most of his years in Netivot, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi [who witnessed much of the story and heard the rest of the details from Eli of Holon], reports that he once asked Baba Sali how he performed this great miracle. The tzaddik answered him innocently, "Believe me, Eliyahu, all I did was tell him 'Stand up!'"

100 Days

Today is the 100th day for these hostages.

#BringThemHome

🎗️Daniel Peretz🎗️Idan Shtiwi🎗️Hanan Yablanca🎗️Coralmog Sarusi🎗️Alex Danzig🎗️Romi Gonen🎗️Ofer Calderon🎗️Yoram Mitzger🎗️Segev Khalfon🎗️Sasha Alexander Trofnov🎗️Lior Rudaeff🎗️Ethan Horan🎗️Yair Horan🎗️Amiram Cooper🎗️Itay Svirski🎗️Doron Steinbrecher🎗️Shlomo Mansorgadi Moshe Moses🎗️Abraham Munder🎗️Shiri Bibs🎗️Kfir Bibs🎗️️Ariel Bibs🎗 ️Yarden Bibs🎗 The 🎗️ David Conho🎗️ Noa Argamani🎗️ Fernando Merman🎗️ Luis Norberto Har🎗️ Alkana Bohbot🎗️ Eli Sharabi🎗️ Tzahi Idan🎗️ Carmel Gat🎗️ Coral Meir Jan🎗️ Omer Shem Tov🎗️ Omri Miran🎗️ Avitar David🎗️ Diamond Fan🎗️ Elia Cohen🎗️ Nadav Popelwell🎗️ Shlomi Ziv🎗️ Itzik Elgret🎗️ Bipin Joshi🎗️ Orion Hernandez Rado🎗️ Eden Jerusalem🎗️ Haim Perry🎗️ Yair Yaakov🎗️ Yosef Elzianda🎗️ Yagev Buchtev🎗️ Omer Venkert🎗️ Yoseph Haim Ohana🎗️ Gali Berman🎗️ Ziv Berman🎗️ Eitan Moore🎗️ Ariel Konio🎗️ Uriel Baruch🎗️ Nimrod Cohen🎗️ Itzik Garlanter🎗️ Rom Breselvsky🎗️ Omer Nautra🎗️ Alex Lubnov🎗️ Matan Engrest🎗️ Keith Samuel Sigal🎗️ Ran Goely🎗️ Uri Danino🎗️ Eitai Chen🎗️ Liri Elbeg🎗️ Karina Arive🎗️ Naama Levi🎗️ Daniela Gilboa🎗️ Tamir Nimrodi🎗️ Idan Alexander🎗️ Maxim Harkin🎗️ Lake Berger🎗️ Ron Benjamin🎗️ Emily Tehila Damari🎗️ Stian Svanakam🎗️ Guy Gilboa Dalal🎗️ Watchera Srion🎗️ Netafong Pineta. 🎗️ Mohamed Al-Atrash🎗️ Hisham A-Sayed🎗️ Avra Mangisto🎗️ Avinan Or🎗️ Hirsch Goldenberg Poland🎗️ Alon Ahl🎗️ Matan Zengauker🎗️ Yossi Sharabi🎗️

"The Pious Shall be Despised"

One of the conditions during the time immediately before Moshiach is that the pious will be despised.  We might have seen that in various places, but we've never seen it quite like it has become now, since the events at Crown Heights at the main Lubavitch Shul - 770.  

The fall-out from this is so immense.  The anti-Semitism has rocketed up to the top of the scale, there are countless memes all over the place, it's gone viral in the worst way.

It's obvious this is part of the Geula process. There is no other way to look at this, it's just fulfilling the words of the prophecy set out here: Ikvot Moshiach: The Time Immediately Before Moshiach.

Some other hints include the fact that it occurred Rosh Chodesh Shevat :

On Shevat 10 on the Jewish calendar, upon the passing of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory, in 1950, leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement passed on to his illustrious son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. In the decades that followed, the Rebbe revolutionized, inspired and guided the post-Holocaust transformation of the Jewish people that continues to this day. [Source Chabad]

770 is the gematria of בית משיח - House of Moshiach.

We are currently experiencing a Yerida l'tzorich Aliyah.  A descent for the purpose of ascent.  The lower the descent, the higher the potential ascent.  

The Hardships of America & The Emergence of Gog Before Mashiach

Rabbi Mendel Kessin - The Middle East War and The True Task of a Non Jew - Part 4

Should All Jews Make Aliyah to Israel Now?

Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson

Rabbi Jacobson is such a kind man, so many insights, so much compassion.  If you live outside of Israel it's really worthwhile to watch this video.  [Actually .... if you already live in Israel you should watch it as well]

Everybody has to ask themselves "Where do I belong?  Where does G-d want me?"

Every single Jew today has to ask themselves "What is my mission today?" - to be able to be an indispensable part in making sure that the light prevails over the darkness, that the good defeats the evil... because this is a global confrontation between good and evil, and as usual the Jews are the canaries of history - the canaries [in the coalmine].

Every single Jew who fortifies themselves in strengthening and fortifying their spiritual core - through Torah, mitzvos, faith, prayer, Unity - are directly contributing to the war effort of the Jewish people.