Insights from the “Dream Book” of the Babylonian Talmud [200–500 ce]

The “Dream Book” provides a subjectively extensive and humane approach to understanding dreams. The Talmudic dream is prophetic in nature so it is future oriented while the Freudian dream is past oriented toward childhood. In addition, there is the need to understand the dream experience. Dream meaning is not in the text but in the interpretation. The dream experience is over-determined. Word play is used by the Rabbis and modern interpreters. The Rabbis felt the dream experience reflected the psychology of the dreamer. Dreams of everyday men and women are presented, not just dreams of royalty. Good and bad dreams reflect the moral nature of the dreamer. And if it is a bad dream there is a method to prevent its fulfillment. Further, if one does not recall a dream, there is also a method for dealing with it in the daily prayers and asking the Lord to make it a good dream. Concern about false dream interpreters is expressed. Dreams with a sexual meaning are represented symbolically. Precursors of many of our modern views of dreaming are present in the “Dream Book”.