Dreamt a disturbing dream, but can't remember it? The Talmud recommends reciting the following prayer while the kohanim bless the people:

"Master of the World! My dreams and I belong to You.... If the dreams are good — bolster them like the dreams of Joseph. And if they need to be remedied — fix them like the bitter waters that Moses sweetened... Just as You transformed the curses of wicked Balaam into blessings, so too, make all of my dreams be for the best." (Berachot 55)

Transforming Bad Dreams

There are two ways in which evil tidings may be transformed into good ones. In the first way, the means remain unfavorable, but the final result is good. One example is the sale of Joseph into slavery and his subsequent imprisonment in Egypt. All of the various causes were adverse, incurring much hardship for Joseph. But the ultimate result — Joseph's rise to greatness, and his ability to provide during the years of famine — was certainly for the best.

However, it is even more impressive when the causes are also changed into positive ones, so that the end is achieved by propitious means. An example of this type of transformation occurred with Balaam. God could have let Balaam curse the people of Israel, and only later changed his curses to blessings. But instead, God "placed a hook in Balaam's mouth" — as the Midrash describes God's complete control over Balaam's powers of speech — so that only blessings came forth. Thus, even the means — Balaam's prophecies — were favorable.

We pray that our dreams should be completely transformed for the good. Like the 'curses' of Balaam, we want both the ends and the means to be auspicious and beneficial.

(Adapted from Ein Eyah vol. II, p. 274)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison