עברית
Faith
Falling Teeth in Dreams
Question
I dreamed a dream on Motzei Shabbat around one-thirty or two in the morning. The dream was about my teeth – I touched an inner tooth because something was stuck there, and while I pulled a thread, the tooth was uprooted from its place. At the same moment, the front teeth in the upper part of my mouth also fell out; they came out like connected dentures. In that place, it seemed as if the old teeth remained. This is despite the fact that I have no dentures except for a few crowns on the sides of my mouth. What is the meaning of this dream? I would appreciate receiving an answer.
Good day, Orly
Answer
Greetings, If you have recently experienced tooth pain or have been thinking about them, no importance should be attributed to the dream. If, however, you had no such thoughts recently, although in most cases the dream has no meaning – especially if you do not yet have children – it is still advisable for you to share the dream's interpretation as soon as possible before three people, preferably those who seek your welfare. Alternatively, you may come to Shacharit prayer and say the following formula during 'Birkat Kohanim' (and strive to finish reciting it as the kohanim finish saying 'Shalom,' so the congregation's 'Amen' will also apply to your prayer):
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֲנִי שֶׁלָּךְ וַחֲלוֹמוֹתַי שֶׁלָּךְ, חֲלוֹם חָלַמְתִּי וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה הוּא. יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהׂוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל חֲלוֹמוֹתַי עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְטוֹבָה, בֵּין שֶׁחָלַמְתִּי עַל עַצְמִי וּבֵין שֶׁחָלַמְתִּי עַל אֲחֵרִים, וּבֵין שֶׁחָלְמוּ אֲחֵרִים עָלַי, אִם טוֹבִים הֵם חַזְּקֵם וְאַמְּצֵם, וְיִתְקַיְּמוּ בִי וּבָהֶם כַּחֲלוֹמוֹתָיו שֶׁל יוֹסֵף הַצַּדִּיק, וְאִם צְרִיכִים רְפוּאָה רְפָאֵם כְּחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה מֵחָלְיוֹ, וּכְמִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה מִצָּרַעְתָּהּ, וּכְנַעֲמָן מִצָּרַעְתּוֹ, וּכְמֵי מָרָה עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, וּכְמֵי יְרִחוֹ עַל יְדֵי אֱלִישָׁע. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהָפַכְתָּ אֶת קִלְלַת בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע מִקְּלָלָה לִבְרָכָה כֵּן תַּהֲפוֹךְ כָּל חֲלוֹמוֹתַי עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְטוֹבָה וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי וּתְחָנֵּנִי וְתִרְצֵּנִי. אמן.
Sources: Refer to Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (Siman 248, Se'if 5) that a dream of falling teeth can be a bad sign. The Mishnah Berurah (Sif-Katan 18) clarifies that if one had tooth pain or was considering something related to teeth, the dream should not be given importance. The Bi'ur Halacha there notes that a person without children need not be stringent to fast over such a dream on Shabbat. The advice to share a dream’s good interpretation is brought in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (Siman 172, Se'if 1). It would seem a woman can share her dream’s interpretation before three women, as noted in Sefer Siyach Tefillah (page 178). However, the responsa Avnei Yashfe, part 4 (Siman 34, branch 1), quoting Rabbi Elyashiv zt"l, rules that a woman should not share a dream’s interpretation before three women. The advice to say 'Master of the Universe' etc. during Birkat Kohanim is found in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (Siman 110), and is recited when one dreams a dream and does not know its meaning. This formula is also effective if the dream was not good, as noted in Igrot Chazon Ish part 2 (Iggeret 129), and similarly in Aruchot Rabbeinu part 3 (page 218) in his name.
Best wishes, Hillel Meirs
