Weekly Thought: Dream Higher

Do dreams really mean much in Judaisim? Is there any truth to one’s dreams? Could / should one be allowed to “dream about the future”? Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky, Shliach to Doral, FL, shares his thoughts on this week’s Parsha – Mikeitz.

For the second week in a row we hear about dreams; in last week’s Parsha Yosef had two dreams, the butler and baker each had a dream and this week Pharaoh has two dreams. Judaism has a lot to say about dreams. In fact, those who study the weekly Dvar Malchus booklet will be happy to find in this week’s edition a very intriguing Maamar from The Rebbe, based on a Maamar of the Alter Rebbe, regarding the concept of dreams. If one were to research this matter, whether in the Talmud, Kabala or Chassidus, he’d be very excited to find out the deep effect dreams have on and receive from one’s life.

As Chabad Chassidim, we know that one of the greatest “regards” a Chosid can have is to see his Rebbe in a dream. Seeing The Rebbe in one’s dream is regarded as a great spiritual treat for the Chosid. Usually it would be the result of exceptional Chassiddishe conduct – Avodah. For a practical perspective on this matter we are privileged to have had the merit of The Rebbe himself revealing insight and clarity during a Simchas Torah Farbrengen many years ago (5715). (See Toras Menachem book 13 page 76)

The Rebbe prefaced with a story which was related by The Previous Rebbe. The Chosid Rabbi Zalman Zlatapolsky had a great desire to “see” The Rebbe Maharash, this was after His passing. He consulted with The Rebbe Rashab, who advised him on this matter and gave him particular instructions to follow. One instruction he gave was to sleep with the Gartel. Indeed after some preparation, he did merit to see The Rebbe Maharash in a dream.

The Rebbe continued: “This is a story that happened with an eltere Chosid from a previous generation. However, currently there’s a situation with a Yungerman whose behavior in a certain matter is not as it should be. He was spoken to regarding this matter – with no effect… until The Rebbe himself (The Previous Rebbe) came to him in dream. Yet, instead of this affecting him and causing him to go out and affect others, he is…

This young man should contemplate how hard Chassidim toiled for years to merit to see The Rebbe. Yet he schlepped The Rebbe to him into the Blotteh (mud, filth) that he’s in… If he were more meritorious, this vision would have come about in a totally different manner; however now that The Rebbe has appeared to him already to address him regarding a more lowly matter, and yet…”

Amazing! First of all, imagine being there and hearing these words of clear Ruach hakodesh coming from The Rebbe! To witness a firsthand report of “what’s going on up there” is no little thing! Moreover, the insight about seeing a Rebbe in a dream – and from The Rebbe himself! Just reading about it makes us want to be better so as to merit to see Our Rebbe!

Back to reality!

The above mentioned is very unique and only for special times in one’s life. However, I do encourage myself and you, to “have The Rebbe in our dreams” on a regular basis. In this context when I say dreaming, I mean it figuratively. We all dream. We all have our aspirations and desires of where we wish to get to in life and the things we hope to achieve. Thus we are constantly “dreaming”. There are dreams we have for ourselves, for our spouses and most importantly for our children. The dreams about the latter especially, should be inspired with The Rebbe. We should “see The Rebbe” in our vision for the future of our children.

When contrasting Yosef’s and Pharoes dreams, The Rebbe points out a very interesting difference. Yosef’s dreams follow the adage of “always going higher”; his first dream is regarding wheat, his second dream is about loftier things, namely the sun, moon and the stars. Whereas Pharoe first dreamt about cows and in the second dream he dreams about something lower (in Chayus), namely wheat. This tells us how a Yid is to be poised in his dreaming. Not only in action and actual observance does one need to be in a constant mode of ascent – always going higher and higher. Even in his perspective and “dreams” must a Yid strive to reach higher all the time!

We all wish the best for our sweet children. We hope for and envision them having a successful life full of happiness and blessings. We must however remember to “dream” for them in the proper order: not only should their lives be sound in the material, but most importantly it should be a life blessed in Torah and Mitzvos – a life in which The Rebbe can be “seen”!