Why Do We Dream? The Spiritual Meaning of Dreams in Jewish Tradition

The prophet explains that one purpose of dreams is to direct people toward the right path and to save them from danger: “In a dream, in a night vision, when deep sleep falls upon men… then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction, to turn man from his deeds.”
The goal is to protect a person from destruction.

Why Dreams Appear

Across Torah literature, many reasons are given for dreams — all intended to help a person in various ways.

Rabbeinu Moshe of Coucy wrote that he traveled to Spain to inspire Jews to strengthen mitzvot such as tefillin, mezuzah, and tzitzit.
He testifies that God sent dreams — to both Jews and non-Jews, that supported his mission and awakened people to repentance: “God strengthened my hands through the dreams of Jews and the dreams of gentiles… the land trembled, fear of God fell upon them, and thousands accepted the mitzvot of tefillin, mezuzot, and tzitzit.”

This reflects the verse: “He spares his soul from the pit.” Many dreams serve to save lives.

Dreams That Warn of Danger

The Talmud relates that Rava’s father came to him in a dream and warned him that there was a heavenly complaint against him, and he should sleep elsewhere that night. Rava listened — and in the morning discovered that the bed he usually slept on had been pierced by the weapons of harmful spirits.

Sometimes a person is not worthy of receiving such a dream for self-protection. Yet, because God has compassion on animals, the dream may still come — to save the animals, and by extension, the humans around them.

Pharaoh’s dream is an example of this. The message of the coming famine was revealed not for the sake of the Egyptians who were corrupt, but because their animals had not sinned. In their merit, humans were saved as well.

Dreams That Prevent Sin

Rav Eliezer bar Nathan (the Ra’avan) ruled that a certain wine suspected of being yayin nesech (used for idolatry) was permissible. That night, his teacher appeared to him in a dream and recited the verse: “They drink wine in bowls… but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.”

He understood from this that his ruling was mistaken, and he fasted for two days.

Dreams That Reveal the Correct Halacha

Rabbeinu Ephraim of Regensburg permitted eating a fish which the sages debated whether it was kosher. That night he dreamed that he was served a bowl full of crawling creatures. He protested, but the dream-figure replied: “Why are you upset? You are the one who permitted it.”

He awoke in shock, realized the allusion, and immediately broke all the dishes in which the fish had been served.

Why the Wicked Sometimes Dream Good Dreams

The Talmud states that sometimes wicked people receive pleasant, comforting dreams. This is because of some good deed they once performed. The enjoyment they feel from the dream is considered their reward in this world, so they will not receive merit in the World to Come.

There are also documented cases where dreams revealed the location of money hidden by someone’s father.

Dreams as Tests: The Story of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld

As a young man, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was extremely poor yet dedicated to Torah study. One night he dreamed the winning number of the community lottery. He told this to a friend but refused to buy the ticket, explaining: “I fear that wealth would disturb my Torah learning. This is a test: will I choose money over Torah?”

The next day, they visited the lottery seller, and indeed, the number he saw in his dream had won.

Dreams That Calm the Heart

Some dreams are not true revelations but are sent to calm a person, to relieve worry, fear, or emotional pain.

Other dreams set in motion a chain reaction that will influence real-world events — guiding the dreamer to behave in a certain way that ultimately fulfills divine providence.

When a Dream Is Meant for Someone Else

Often, the message of a dream is meant not for the dreamer but for someone else. Heaven may not wish to reveal the message to that person directly — for example, if he is spiritually distant, so it is shown to someone close to him.

Therefore, if a person dreams something troubling about a friend, the sages write:

1. He should fast and pray for his friend.

2. He should also tell the friend, so that the friend may repent and pray for himself.

The halachic authorities add that sometimes a dream about another person is actually meant for the dreamer himself — so the dreamer should also take it seriously.

Dreams About Others May Be More Powerful

A dream about someone else has special strength and validity.
Our sages say that one of the signs of a true dream is that it is dreamed about another person.

Sometimes the Dream’s Purpose Is for the Interpreter

Many biblical dreams — including those of Pharaoh, the chief baker, and the chief butler, served primarily to set in motion the chain of events that would lead to Joseph’s release from prison and his rise to power.