Dream Queries: Seeking Answers from the Subconscious

Life presents us with complex dilemmas and crucial decisions that could shape our future. Should we leave a stable job to venture into a risky business? Marry that person—are they truly my soulmate? End the relationship, risking the unknown? Move abroad for financial prospects? Undertake a long, grueling study program hoping it leads to a career? Many lose sleep, wrestling with their decisions, even after choices are made, doubts remain.

What if we're on the wrong path leading nowhere? These situations often make us wish for someone to give us clear answers about our actions. If only we could fax the Creator and receive definite responses, our lives would undoubtedly become simpler. Remarkably, there is a way, albeit with limited reliability, available to ordinary people.

A Critical Question - In the Bible, we meet a character in a severe dilemma—not just his life, but his entire people's future was at stake. This is King Saul, on the brink of war with the Philistines, as his reign was unraveling. He sought guidance from a higher power, but found all channels blocked.

What type of communication is this? Saul asked Hashem, but received no response—not through dreams, Urim and Thummim, or prophets (1 Samuel 28:6). He approached the prophets, but Samuel had passed, and they had no message. He sought the Urim and Thummim—breastplate stones of the high priest that would light up to answer questions. Again, no response. Desperate, he tried through dreams. What is a dream query? One of the great Torah commentators, Radak (Rabbi David Kimhi, 1160-1235 CE) explains: it involved asking dreams. [Notably, Saul ultimately consulted a medium to summon Samuel’s spirit, which foretold his defeat.]

What is 'Dream Inquiry'? It's comforting to know doubts aren't only modern. Humans have always sought answers to existential questions. For this, they engaged in 'Dream Inquiry'—connecting with spiritual realms for guidance on personal dilemmas. Before envy sets in, note that not everyone received answers, nor were all questions addressed...

How to ask? Ancient Torah literature shows dream inquiry as a known, useful act, with detailed guidance on the process. It can be categorized into three methods:

A. Deep Reflection. Some early sages suggested focusing on the troubling topic until drifting to sleep with those thoughts. Success was achieved unwittingly by some. In "Dreams and Interpretations," a French professor struggled with a Babylonian inscription but dreamt of the solution one night.

At that moment, the message became clear and logical. Elias Howe dreamt of native spears with eye-like holes, fast-tracking his sewing machine design. Prof. Friedrich August discovered benzene’s structure through a dream. Chemist James Watt found his ball-bearing theory after a recurring dream, which ceased once he realized the discovery.

"The Dream and Its Solution" recounts professionals solving work issues via dreams. Dr. Rohambugh tried to cure a patient fruitlessly, then dreamt of a medicinal book overnight listing necessary treatments, which later healed the patient. Composer Wagner dreamt an opera perfectly, later transcribing it to great fame. Engineer Emanuel Magnin developed engineering principles from a dream.

B. Fasts, Invocations, and Verses. Most books describe dream inquiry as a metaphysical process involving fasts, invocations, special verses, divine names, and angelic invocations.

C. Using Symbolic Means. Some methods needed no spiritual prep, relying on charms and technical means alone. Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra noted that the "Achlama" stone invoked dreams if worn during sleep. Others used shed snakeskin dust and linen head covers.

How was the answer received? Answers usually came in dreams [with some exceptions of receiving them awake or written on notes]. Typically, responses cited verses hinting at solutions, needing intuitive interpretation by the dreamer. At times, answers were so cryptic, forcing a second dream inquiry for clarity.

Historical Overview - A historical review shows Jewish sages used dream inquiries extensively. The Talmud records instances of rabbis asking for guidance through dreams and receiving answers. In the Talmud, Baba Metzia [107b, commentary by Rabbi Chananel], the Amora 'Rav' inquired about the primary cause of death; the heavens answered 99% due to an "evil eye."

Another story [Berachot 18b, Maharsha] about Amora 'Zeiri'; he deposited money with a deceased innkeeper. A dream inquiry guided him to where she hid the funds.

Post-Talmudic times saw continued dream inquiry usage. Kabbalist Rabbi Abraham Halevi (500 years ago) probed the time of the Messiah’s arrival, receiving dream answers in cryptic verses. Another answer was "It is not with me"—"Who- asks to hide [the answer] with me?"

The Right Rabbi? After Rabbi Yomtov Lipmann was laid to rest, Krakow needed a new rabbi. Two candidates emerged—Rabbi Heschel and another, unable to choose, they consulted the elderly Rabbi Nathan Shapira, who dreamt an answer encapsulated in a verse hinting 'Heschel' and 'Krakow'.

Should I Marry? Dream inquiries solved personal dilemmas too. One inquiry about marrying a particular woman was answered: "and Lotan's sister was Timna," alluding to her brother named Lotan. Rabbi Judah Aryeh of Modena had a vision indicating Esther, his cousin, as his future wife, which shifted unexpectedly.

The engagement was set [year 5881], but alas, the bride-to-be fell ill and passed before marriage. Post 'shiva,' families suggested her sister, whom Judah recognized instantly from his dream vision.

It was the second girl in his dream vision. Rabbi Aryeh’s son, Mordechai, dreamt his future wife would be signaled by a coffin, foretelling his premature death, unmarried.

Some went further, even attempting to predict lottery results. Their success remains undocumented...

Halachic Decision by Dream Inquiries - If Divine guidance could solve material doubts, why not spiritual? Indeed, rabbis resorted to dream inquiries for halachic questions. There's a complex legal debate about the weight given to dreams' heavenly conclusions. Despite Rabbi Jacob of Marveishe (from Tosafists, late 12th to early 13th century) frequently relying on dream inquiries for halacha, formal law doesn’t accept such verdicts as binding.

Yet Rabbi Jacob's responses were often cited by future scholars. However, legal decisions based on heavenly answers aren’t standard practice.

Can we still do a Dream Inquiry today? Despite its past prevalence, the last generations seldom use dream inquiries. Since the Baal Shem Tov's era, this tool faded, though he was reputed to derive insights from dreams. Rabbi Judah the Pious warned against dream inquiries in "Sefer Chassidim," citing harm from malevolent spirits.

Plus, a scriptural reason against its use: "You shall be perfect with Hashem your God," advocating simplicity and trusting Hashem's wisdom. As Rashi interprets, live genuinely, expect His support without future probing. In sum, dream inquiries likely won’t resolve our dilemmas, urging reliance on old but reliable guidance of a rabbinic advisor to pave clarity, as advised by Rabbi Gamliel in "Pirkei Avot." [This article is a chapter from 'Mishna Dreams,' published in 2006.]