Berakhot 57
“All species of animals are good omens in a dream, with the exception of an elephant and a monkey.” We are told today that in fact dreaming of an elephant is good omen if he is saddled and a bad one if he is not. What a wonderful thought of saddling an elephant and jumping onboard and heading out for an adventure with the most majestic creature on earth.
The long interpretation of dreams in today’s text breaks many taboos and suggests that the dreamworld is one that exists outside conventional boundaries, for interpretations are offered for dreaming of relations with one’s mother, sister and animals, which seems prescient of what was to come in Freudian interpretations.
“One who sees that he had relations with his mother in a dream, he should anticipate understanding.”
“One who has relations with his sister in a dream should anticipate wisdom.”
“One who dreams he has relations with a goose will become head of the Yeshiva.”What is remarkable about the litany of dreams in today’s text is how many are symbols for positive outcomes. This includes dreaming of wheat, fig trees, olives, pomegranates, goats, roosters, small boats, climbing roofs, trees, blood, drums, snakes, and standing naked in Israel. They are symbols for prosperity and future accomplishment and forgiveness of transgressions. There is a generosity of spirit that belies all of these dreams (although there is some debate on the meaning of killing a snake in a dream.) This carries forward the theme from yesterday’s text that “all dreams follow the mouth.” Positive interpretations can lead to positive thinking and good outcomes. Of course, the outcome may not be what we expect or hope for, but still, “all’s well that ends well.”
Putting aside the reference to relations with a mother, sister or goose, what is interesting in today’s text is the parallel structure of anchoring each concept to something tangible through dreams:
One who dreams of wheat will experience peace
One who dreams of barley receives a sign that his sins will be expunged
One who dreams of a grape vine will have a lot of children
One who dreams of a planted vine branch will be visited upon by the Messiah
One who dreams of pomegranates will be prosperous in businessOne who dreams of olives will see his business increase
One who dreams of an olive tree will experience a good reputation
One who dreams of a goat will have a good year
One who dreams of a rooster will have a male childOne who dreams of a hen will have a beautiful garden
And my own addition: One who dreams of completing the 7-year Daf Yomi cycle will gain wisdom and insight into his and her ancestors and birthright and will keep on reading. And wow! We are heading toward the completion of a second month and the first tractate. Thank you everyone in this community for inspiring me to keep on reading.