Berachos 56b

ברכות נ״ו ע״ב

Berakhot 56b

Learn Berachos 56b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Dream stories and the meanings of dream images

Overview

This amud opens with the end of a punishment story. It then brings a long series of dream stories. בן דמא and a heretic bring their dreams to רבי ישמעאל, and בר קפרא brings his to רבי. Some readings comfort the dreamer, while others expose his sins; in two cases the story confirms the reading with a dead man's cloak and a beam full of coins. Next come general rules about dream images such as a well, a river, a bird, and a pot. רבי יהושע בן לוי then teaches that a dreamer should rise early and say the hopeful פסוק about the image before a troubling פסוק comes first. Side teachings explain the reed, pumpkin, ox, donkey, cat, grapes, horse, ישמעאל, camel, פינחס, and elephant. Two contradictions come up along the way. The ox one is solved by asking who is riding whom. The elephant one opens with לא קשיא, and its answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (47)

1. StatementThe earlier story ends with a punishment
2. ResponseFallen cheeks point to a danger that has passed
3. ResponseSeveral frightening dreams receive favorable readings
4. ResponseOil returned to olives points to a forbidden relationship
5. ResponseThe star dreams point to theft and sale
6. ResponseThe eyes and moon point to two relationships
7. ResponseThe myrtle shade receives a further explanation
8. ResponseBirds around the bed point to different people’s actions
9. ResponseTwo flying doves point to two wives sent away
10. ResponsePeeling eggs points to stripping the dead
11. ProofA woman confirms the disputed interpretation
12. QuestionA dream names a place with no known connection
13. ResponseThe place-name leads to the tenth beam
14. StatementA well in a dream points to peace
15. StatementTwo more readings of the well
16. StatementThree dream images associated with peace
17. StatementThe peaceful pot must have no meat
18. StatementA river: say the verse about peace
19. StatementA bird: say the verse about protection
20. StatementA pot: say the verse about peace
21. StatementGrapes: say the verse about finding Israel
22. StatementA mountain: say the verse about good news
23. StatementA shofar: say the verse about gathering
24. StatementA dog: say the verse about Israel's safety
25. StatementA lion: say the verse about its roar
26. StatementA shave in a dream: יוסף's verse versus שמשון's verse
27. StatementA well in a dream: living waters versus flowing wickedness
28. StatementA reed in a dream: the gentle משיח versus מצרים the broken staff
29. StatementOne reed means wisdom, several reeds mean understanding
30. Statementרבי זירא: four similar-sounding items are all good to dream about
31. StatementPumpkins are shown only to someone who truly fears Heaven
32. StatementAn ox in a dream: majesty versus goring
33. StatementFive ways an ox can appear in a dream and what each means
34. ChallengeAnother source says riding an ox means death
35. ResolutionIt depends on who is riding whom
36. StatementDonkey: expect salvation
37. StatementCat: it depends on the local word for cat
38. StatementGrapes: color and season matter
39. StatementHorse: color and speed matter
40. Statementישמעאל: prayer will be heard, but only the real ישמעאל
41. StatementCamel: death was decreed but he was saved
42. Statementרבי חמא ברבי חנינא: the source is 'גם עלה'
43. Statementרב נחמן בר יצחק: the source is 'גם... לא תמות'
44. Statementפינחס: a miracle will happen
45. StatementElephant: miracles, and more elephants mean more miracles
46. ChallengeA ברייתא says the elephant is not a good dream sign
47. ResolutionThe גמרא says the contradiction is not a problem