Good intentions do not suffice

Hi,

"They asked me what I knew of the claims and refutations against the philosophers and proponents of religions who disagree with us, and the heretics who oppose the nation of Israel. 

"I remembered that which I had heard of the claims of the habr who was with the Khazar king, who became a Jew about 400 years ago, as recorded in the books of chronicles. He experienced a repeated dream, as though a malach spoke with him, saying, 'Your intent is desirable to the Creator, but your deeds are not desirable.' He tried hard, within the Khazar religion, serving in their sanctuary and bringing offerings wholeheartedly. For all that he worked at those deeds, though, the malach came to him at night and said, 'Your intent is desirable, but your deeds are not desirable.' And this caused him to investigate beliefs and religions, and in the end he and many Khazars converted to Judaism."

(Rabbi Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 1:1)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Mocking King Saul

Hi,

"'Saul was one year in his reign (Samuel I 13:1)' Rav Huna said: Like a one-year-old, not having tasted sin.

"Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak asked: Perhaps he was as a one-year-old who is dirtied with clay and filth?

They showed Rav Nachman a frightening vision in his dream. He declared, 'I am humbled before you, bones of Saul ben Kish!' They again showed him a frightening vision in his dream. He declared, 'I am humbled before you, bones of Saul ben Kish, King of Israel!'"

בן שנה שאול במלכו. אמר רב הונא: כבן שנה, שלא טעם טעם חטא. מתקיף לה רב נחמן בר יצחק: ואימא כבן שנה שמלוכלך בטיט ובצואה? אחויאו ליה לרב נחמן סיוטא בחלמיה. אמר: נעניתי לכם עצמות שאול בן קיש. הדר חזא סיוטא בחלמיה. אמר: נעניתי לכם עצמות שאול בן קיש מלך ישראל. 

(Talmud, Yoma 22b)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Dreams: The interpretation is what matters

Hi,

"Rav Chisda said: A dream which has not been interpreted is like a [royal] decree which has not been proclaimed."

(Talmud, Berachot 55a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A river, a bird and a kettle

Hi,

"Rabbi Chanan said: There are three signs of peace [in a dream] - a river, a bird and a kettle.

"A river - For the verse says, 'I spread peace upon it, like a river.'

"A bird - For the verse says, 'Gd will protect you like flying birds.'

"A kettle - For the verse says, 'Gd will arrange [the same verb used to describe arranging a kettle on a stove] peace for us.'

"This refers to a kettle which does not contain meat, for another verse states, 'You have sliced them like the contents of a pot, and like meat in a cauldron.'"

(Talmud, Berachot 56b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Job on Dreams

Hi,

"For Gd speaks in one way, and in two ways although Man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, then He opens the ear of men, and in rebuking them He seals the decree, dissuading a person from action and concealing arrogance from him, to save his soul from the pit and his life from passing by the sword."

(Iyyov [Job] 33:14-18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fasting due to a dream: Listen to your heart

Hi,

"Regarding observing a fast due to a dream: It is generally appropriate to give appropriate space in one's life for his spirit's feelings as they are, without over-analysis, for this is the wisdom of life. Therefore, it is appropriate to make space for one's spiritual state, which seeks that he fulfill its demands via some pain or infliction, of which the most natural form is a fast."

(Rav Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, Igrot haRa'ayah I 79)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Repentance matters more than fasting

Hi,

"Know and understand that although the sages have said, ‘Fasting is good for a [bad] dream like fire for flax,’ that is only if one repents along with the fast."

(Sefer Chasidim 226)

Have a great day,
Mordechai