Vayeshev: Chapter 7

"And Joseph dreamed a dream"

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya discusses dreams as a form of divine revelation. Situated beneath Prophecy and Vision in the hierarchy of revelatory experiences, dreams comprise a mixture of truth and falsehood, and serve as an admonition to the dreamer. Once given, the interpretation of a dream can influence both its meaning and its fulfillment. According to Rabbi Shimon, the dreamer's awareness and interpretation is not necessary for fulfillment. The interpretation of Joseph's dream by his brothers, whereby they sealed their fate, warns us not to dismiss our dreams too quickly or to share them with those who are not friends.

Relevance

Reading this section raises awareness of the vital information provided by dreams in order to help our spiritual development. We learn to protect ourselves against negative dream interpretations and their manifestation.

Dreams Grades Joseph Prophecy Prophets Vision

82. "And Joseph dreamed a dream" (Beresheet 37:5). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, "And he said, 'Hear now My words, If there be a prophet among you, I, Hashem, make Myself known to him in a vision, and speak to him in a dream'" (Bemidbar 12:6). Come and behold, how many grades of prophecy the Holy One, blessed be He, formed. They stand upon each other, one grade superior to another, higher than the other. They all nourish each other according to their ability, some from the right and some from the left, as is proper.

82. וַיַּחֲלֹם יוֹסֵף חֲלוֹם וגו,' רִבִּי חִיָּיא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְעוּ נָא דְּבָרָי אִם יִהְיֶה נְבִיאֲכֶם יי' בַּמַּרְאָה אֵלָיו אֶתְוַדָּע בַּחֲלוֹם אֲדַבֶּר בּוֹ. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה דַרְגִּין לְדַרְגִין עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ קָיְימֵי דָא עַל דָּא, דַּרְגָּא עַל דַּרְגָּא, דָּא לְעֵיל מִן דָּא, וְכֻלְּהוּ יָנְקִין אִלֵּין מִן אִלֵּין, כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לוֹן, אִלֵּין מִימִינָא וְאִלֵּין מִשְּׂמָאלָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְמַנָּן אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין, כֹּלָּא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Colors Dreams Gabriel (Angel) Grades Mirror Nukva Prophecy Prophets Red Vision White Zeir Anpin

83. Come and behold, the prophets in the world are all nourished from one aspect, from two known grades, NETZACH AND HOD, which are seen within the mirror (Heb. mar'ah) that has no reflection, WHICH IS THE NUKVA. As it is written, "I, Hashem, make Myself known to him in a vision (Heb. mar'eh)" (Bemidbar 12:6). This is the mirror that reflects all the colors, NAMELY WHITE, RED, AND GREEN, WHICH REPRESENT THE THREE COLUMNS OF ZEIR ANPIN; it is known as the 'dull mirror.' The phrase, "And speak to him in a dream" (Ibid.), refers to the sixtieth part of prophecy. As has been explained, it is Gabriel's grade, the sixth grade BENEATH the grade of prophecy, who supervises dreams.

83. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל נְבִיאֵי דְעַלְמָא כֻּלְּהוּ יָנְקֵי מִסִּטְרָא חָדָא, מִגּוֹ תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין יְדִיעָן, וְאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין הֲווֹ אִתְחַזְּיָין בְּגוֹ אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָא דְּלָא נָהֲרָא, דִּכְתִיב בַּמַּרְאָה אֵלָיו אֶתְוַדָּע, מַאי הוּא מַרְאָה, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר חֵיזוּ דְּכָל גְּוָונִן אִתְחַזְּיָין בְּגַוָּוהּ, וְדָא הִיא אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָא דְּלָא נָהֲרָא. בַּחֲלוֹם אֲדַבֶּר בּוֹ, דָּא הוּא חַד מִשִּׁתִּין בִּנְבוּאָה, כְּמָה דְאוֹקְמוּהָ, וְאִיהוּ דַּרְגָּא שְׁתִיתָאָה מֵהַהוּא דַרְגָּא דִּנְבוּאָה, וְאִיהוּ דַּרְגָּא דְגַבְרִיאֵל, דִמְמַנָּא עַל חֶלְמָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר.

Angels Dreams Gabriel (Angel) Grades

84. Come and behold, every well-formed dream proceeds from that grade OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL. BECAUSE IT IS FROM AN ANGEL, every dream includes some lies. Therefore, parts of dreams are true and parts are false; no dream is without both.

84. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל חֶלְמָא דְּאִיהוּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, מֵהַאי דַרְגָּא קָא אַתְיָא, וְעַל דָּא, לֵית לָךְ חֶלְמָא, דְּלָא יִתְעָרְבוּן עִמֵּיהּ מִלִּין כְּדִיבִין, כְּמָה דְאוֹקִימְנָא, וּבְגִין כָּך, מִנַּיְיהוּ קְשׁוֹט, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ כְּדִיבָן, וְלֵית לָךְ חֶלְמָא, דְּלָא אִית בֵּיהּ מֵהַאי גִיסָא וּמֵהַאי גִיסָא.

Angels Dreams Gabriel (Angel) Grades Nukva

85. Because a dream has both TRUE AND FALSE ELEMENTS, all the dreams in the world follow verbal interpretations, as was explained in relation to the verse, "And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was" (Beresheet 41:13); FOR IT COMES TO PASS ACCORDING TO ITS OWN INTERPRETATION. What is the reason? A dream contains truth and lies; hence, the words of interpretation prevail over everything, IN THAT THEY DETERMINE WHETHER THE TRUE OR THE FALSE PART SHALL PREVAIL. A dream therefore needs a favorable interpretation. Rabbi Yehuda said that because a dream is of a lower grade (THAT OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL), and speech (THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA) has power OVER THE ANGEL, dreams follow their own interpretations - WHICH COME FROM THE ASPECT OF SPEECH AND PROCEED FROM THE NUKVA, CALLED 'SPEECH,' RULING OVER THE ANGEL GABRIEL.'

85. וּבְגִין דְּאִית בֵּיהּ בְּחֶלְמָא כֹּלָּא כִּדְאֲמָרָן, כָּל חֶלְמִין דְּעַלְמָא, אָזְלִין בָּתַר פִּשְׁרָא דְפוּמָא, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ דִּכְתִיב, וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר פָּתַר לָנוּ כֵּן הָיָה, מ"ט, בְּגִין דְּאִית בֵּיהּ בְּחֶלְמָא כְּדִיבוּ וּקְשׁוֹט, וּמִלָּה שָׁלְטָא עַל כֹּלָּא, וּבְגִין כָּך, בָּעֵי חֶלְמָא פִּשְׁרָא טָבָא. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אֲמַר, בְּגִין דְּכָל חֶלְמָא, מִדַּרְגָּא דִלְתַתָּא אִיהוּ, וְדִבּוּר שָׁלְטָא עֲלֵיהּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כָּל חֶלְמָא אָזְלָא בָּתַר פִּשְׁרָא.

Dreams Ears Heaven Job Mercy Soul, The Vision

86. He opened with the verse, "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering upon the bed, then He opens the ears of men, and with discipline seals their instruction" (Iyov 33:15-16). Come and behold, when man lies in his bed, he should first acknowledge the Kingdom of Heaven over him, then utter a verse of mercy. The friends explained that when a man sleeps in his bed, his soul leaves him to soar above, each soul according to its own way.

86. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, בַּחֲלוֹם חֶזְיוֹן לַיְלָה בִּנְפֹל תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל אֲנָשִׁים בִּתְנוּמוֹת עֲלֵי מִשְׁכָּב אָז יִגְלֶה אֹזֶן אֲנָשִׁים וּבְמֹסָרָם יַחְתֹּם. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד סָלֵיק בַּר נָשׁ לְעַרְסֵיהּ, מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, לְאַמְלָכָא עֲלֵיהּ מַלְכוּתָא דִשְׁמַיָא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר יֵימָא חַד פְּסוּקָא דְרַחֲמֵי, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָיא, בְּגִין דְּהָא כַּד בַּר נָשׁ נָאֵים עַל עַרְסֵיהּ, הָא נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ נַפְקָא מִנֵּיהּ, וְאָזְלָא וְשָׁטְיָא לְעֵילָא, כָּל חַד וְחַד כְּפוּם אָרְחֵיהּ וְהָכֵי סְלֵיקַת, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר.

Dreams Ears Gabriel (Angel) Grades Soul, The

87. When people fall asleep in their beds, the soul departs. "In slumbering upon the bed, then He opens the ears of men." Thus, the Holy One, blessed be He, reveals to the soul through the grade in charge of dreams, NAMELY GABRIEL, what will happen in the world in the future, or that which corresponds to his innermost thoughts, THAT IS, TRUTH, LIES, OR BOTH. Thus, through admonition, a man receives knowledge of things to come. FOR THIS REASON, HE IS TOLD OF FUTURE EVENTS.

87. מַה כְּתִיב בַּחֲלוֹן חֶזְיוֹן לַיְלָה, כַּד בְּנֵי נָשָׁא שָׁכְבֵי בְּעַרְסַיְיהוּ נָיְימִין, וְנִשְׁמָתָא נָפְקַת מִנַּיְיהוּ, הה"ד בִּתְנוּמוֹת עֲלֵי מִשְׁכָּב, אָז יִגְלֶה אֹזֶן אֲנָשִׁים, וּכְדֵין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹדַע לָהּ לְנִשְׁמָתָא, בְּהַהוּא דַרְגָּא דְּקָיְימָא עַל חֶלְמָא, אִינוּן מִלִּין דִּזְמִינִין לְמֵיתֵי עַל עַלְמָא, אוֹ אִינוּן מִלִּין, כְּפוּם אִינוּן הִרְהוּרִין דְּלִבֵּיהּ, בְּגִין דְּבַר נָשׁ נָטֵיל אָרְחָא דְּתוֹכָחֵי דְעָלְמָא.

Angels Body Dreams Merit Soul, The

88. A man is not given this knowledge while the body is strong. The angel informs the soul, and the soul informs the man. The dream comes TO THE SOULS from above, when the souls depart from the body and ascend, each according to its merit.

88. בְּגִין דְּהָא לָא מוֹדָעִין לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, בְּעוֹד דְּאִיהוּ קָאֵים בְּתוֹקְפָא דְגוּפָא, כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן, אֶלָּא מַלְאָכָא אוֹדַע לְנִשְׁמָתָא, וְנִשְׁמָתָא לְבַר נָשׁ, וְהַהוּא חֶלְמָא אִיהוּ מִלְּעֵילָא, כַּד נִשְׁמָתִין נָפְקִין מִגּוּפֵי, וְסָלְקִין כָּל חַד וְחַד כְּפוּם אָרְחֵיהּ.

Dreams Grades Prophecy Vision Wisdom

89. How many grades are in the secret of the dream, in the secret of wisdom? Come and behold, a dream is one grade, a vision is another, and a prophecy a third. All these grades are in ascending order; THE DREAM IS BENEATH VISION, AND VISION IS BENEATH PROPHECY.

89. וְכַמָּה דַּרְגִּין עַל דַּרְגִּין, בְּרָזָא דְחֶלְמָא, כֻּלְּהוּ בְּרָזָא דְחָכְמְתָא. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, חֲלוֹם דַּרְגָּא חָדָא, מַרְאָה דַּרְגָּא חָדָא, נְבוּאָה דַּרְגָּא חָדָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ דַּרְגִּין לְדַרְגִּין אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין.

Dreams Evil Hatred Joseph Love

90. "And Joseph dreamed a dream, and told it to his brethren, and they hated him yet the more" (Beresheet 37:5). From this, we learn that a man should tell his dream only to someone who loves him. If the listener does not LOVE HIM, he shall bring evil upon him; for if the dream changes, he is the reason that THE TRUE MEANING OF THE DREAM is not fulfilled, BECAUSE OF HIS INCORRECT INTERPRETATION.

90. וַיַּחֲלֹם יוֹסֵף חֲלוֹם וַיַּגֵּד לְאֶחָיו וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אֹתוֹ, עַל חֲלוֹמוֹתָיו. מֵהָכָא, דְּלָא מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֵימַר חֶלְמֵיהּ, בַּר לְהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ דִּרְחֵים לֵיהּ, וְאִי לָאו, אִיהוּ גָּרֵים לֵיהּ, דְּאִי הַהוּא חֶלְמָא מִתְהַפֵּךְ לְגַוְונָא אָחֳרָא, אִיהוּ גָּרֵים לְסַלָּקָא.

Dreams Hatred Joseph Love Year

91. Come and behold, Joseph told his dream to his brothers WHO DID NOT LOVE HIM, and so fulfillment of the dream was delayed 22 years. Rabbi Yosi asks, How do we know THAT HATRED PREVENTED THE DREAM FROM BEING CARRIED OUT? From the words, "and they hated him yet the more" (Beresheet 37:8). This hatred caused accusations to be brought against him, AND THE DREAM WAS DELAYED FOR 22 YEARS.

91. תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּיוֹסֵף אִיהוּ אֲמַר חֶלְמָא לַאֲחוּהִי, וְעַל דָּא גָּרְמוּ לֵיהּ לְסַלָּקָא חֶלְמֵיהּ, תְּרֵין וְעֶשְׂרִין שְׁנִין דְּאִתְעַכַּב, רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אֲמַר, מְנָלָן, דִּכְתִיב וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אוֹתוֹ, מַאי שְׂנֹא אוֹתוֹ, דְּגָרְמוּ לֵיהּ קִטְרוּגִין בְּדָא.

Dreams Hatred Prayer

92. It is written, "And he said to them, 'Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed'" (Beresheet 37:6). He begged them to listen to him and recounted the dream, yet were it not for them, who gave the dream a different meaning, it would have come true. But they answered, "'Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?'" (Beresheet 37:8). In their answer, they gave its interpretation, AND TURNED ITS MEANING OF REIGN AND DOMINION INTO SOMETHING ELSE. They decreed THAT HE SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM, and it is therefore written, "And they hated him yet the more," MEANING THEY CAUSED ACCUSATIONS TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST HIM.

92. מַה כְּתִיב וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם שִׁמְעוּ נָא הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמָתִּי, דְּבָעָא מִנַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׁמְעוּן לֵיהּ. וְאִיהוּ אוֹדַע לְהוֹ הַהוּא חֶלְמָא, דְּאִלְמָלֵא אִינוּן דְּאַהֲפָכוֹ לֵיהּ לְגַוְונָא אָחֳרָא, הָכֵי אִתְקַיַּים, וְאִינוּן אֲתִיבוּ וַאֲמָרוּ הֲמָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ אִם מָשׁוֹל תִּמְשֹׁל בָּנוּ, מִיָּד אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ פִּשְׁרָא דְחָלְמָא, וְגָזְרוּ גְּזֵרָה, וּבְגִין כָּךְ וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אוֹתוֹ.

Dreams Dwellings

93. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were with Rabbi Shimon. Rabbi Chiya said, We have learned an uninterpreted dream resembles an unopened letter. HE ASKS, Does this mean that the dream comes true without the dreamer being conscious of it, or that it does not come true at all? He answers, IT MEANS THAT the dream comes true, but the dreamer does not know it. For there is a power dwelling upon the dream WHICH FORCES IT TO COME TRUE. Only the dreamer is not aware whether the dream comes true or not, JUST AS ONE DOES NOT KNOW THE CONTENTS OF AN UNOPENED LETTER.

93. ר' חִיָּיא וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, הֲווֹ שְׁכִיחֵי קַמֵיהּ דְּר' שִׁמְעוֹן, אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, הָא תָּנִינָן חֶלְמָא דְלָא אִתְפַּשַּׁר, כְּאִגַּרְתָּא דְלָא מִתְקַרְיָא, אִי בְּגִין דְּאִתְקַיַּים וְאִיהוּ לָא יָדַע, אוֹ דְּלָא אִתְקַיַּים כְּלָל. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִתְקַיַּים וְלָא אִתְיְידַע, דְּהָא הַהוּא חֶלְמָא, חֵילָא תַּלְיָא עֲלֵיהּ, וְאִיהוּ לָא אִתְיְדַע, וְלָא יְדִיעַ אִי אִתְקַיַּים, אִי לָא אִתְקַיַּים.

Birds Dreams Heaven Prophets

94. Everything that happens in the world depends on a dream or a proclamation before it becomes reality. We have learned that before any matter enters the world, a proclamation resounds in heaven, from where it is spread throughout the world. It is done by a crier, as it is written, "Surely Hashem Elohim will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). This was when there were prophets in the world. When the prophets were gone, sages took their places who rank higher. And when THE SAGES were gone, the future was announced by a dream - and if not BY A DREAM, through birds in the sky, as has been already explained.

94. וְלֵית לָךְ מִלָּה בְּעַלְמָא, דְּעַד לָא יֵיתֵי לְעַלְמָא, דְּלָאו אִיהוּ תַּלְיָיא בְּחֶלְמָא, אוֹ עַל יְדָא דְּכָרוֹזָא, דְּהָא אִתְּמָר, דְּכָל מִלָּה וּמִלָּה עַד לָא יֵיתֵי לְעַלְמָא, מַכְרְזֵי עֲלֵיהּ בָּרָקִיעַ, וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְפַּשַּׁט בְּעַלְמָא, וְאִתְיְהֵיב עַל יְדָא דְּכָרוֹזָא, וְכֹלָּא בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב כִּי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה יי' אֱלֹהִים דָּבָר כִּי אִם גָּלָה סוֹדוֹ אֶל עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים, בְּזִמְנָא דִנְבִיאִים אִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ בְּעַלְמָא, וְאִי לָאו, אַף עַל גָּב דִּנְבוּאָה לָא שַׁרְיָא, חַכִּימֵי עֲדִיפֵי מִנְּבִיאִים, וְאִי לָא, אִתְיְהֵיב בְּחֶלְמָא, וְאִי לָאו, בְּצִפֳּרֵי שְׁמַיָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי מִלָּה, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ.

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