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Rabbi Scheiner would like to invite you to a special Rosh Chodesh class (first day of the Hebrew month) about the Talmudic and Mystical Meaning of Dreams.In secular literature dreams largely remain unexplained, however the Talmud and Kaballah give us fascinating explanations about the phenomenon of dreams.
Come join us for a fascinating class on dreams, Wednesday, January 25 at Chabad 4900 Sioux Drive at 7 pm. Hoping to see you! Rsvp appreciated: chabadofboulder@gmail.com
Baruch…Shelo Asani Lubavitcher!
That's only so you could CHOOSE to become one…
Respectfully, the statement, "In secular literature dreams largely go unexplained…" seems to evince a severe lack of education in regards to the discipline of Modern Psychology. Whether it be the Dream Interpretation theories of Sigmeund (Shlomo) Freud, Carl Gustav Jung or Fritz (Shlomo) Perls there are more "Orthodox" "Jewish" Psychologists and therapists today on a global basis who employ these theories to assist others than anything found in the Talmud and this is not for lack of knowledge of what Talmudic teachings have to offer as there are numerous English language books that touch on the subject. The Talmudic Sages interpretations of dreams falls under the realm of Chochma (Wisdom) and this area of Wisdom is not necessarily of distinct Jewish origin and is similar to Astrology which the Talmudic sages largely adopted in their sojourn in Babylonia and Persia. This wisdom needs to be evaluated on its own merits and there is no a priori theological necessity in Judaism to defend it, see it as distinctly Jewish nor of any supreme value to what modern theorists have to offer.A more valuable contribution would be to offer a comparative class of these different approaches Talmudic and Modern. The Rambam as is well known entirely rejected Astrology despite its near total acceptance by the Talmudic Sages and I suspect that if living today he would find more value in much of what modern psychologists have to say on the subject that what the Talmudic sages have stated on the subject.
Well said!
So, nu, waiting-dreaming- for you to offer the comparative class…
The subject does not interest me at present to devote such time.. I will share with you some brief comment though based on my studies over the years. One of the fundamental differences between Talmudic teachings and Modern psychological teachings on Dream interpretation is that the former lacks a systematic theory that underpins it. When you study the Talmudic teachings on dreams they are all over the place and it is hard to detect nor to my knowledge has anyone proposed a systemic basis to their meanings. In Modern Psychological theory regardless of the school there is a more systematic approach and this applies whether its rooted in Freudian Psycho-Sexual Development theory, Jungian Archetypal theory or Gestalt what I will call projection based approaches. It is not only a systematic theory of Dream Interpretation that I sense lacking it is as well a systematic sense of Personality Theory that I sense lacking. The Talmud seems to have associations of certain images in dreams with certain outcomes upon consideration we need to reflect on whether we can at all relate or understand what these associations are based on. There is an injunction among the early authorities about utilizing or promoting Talmudic medicinal remedies lest one, "bring ridicule on the early sages" I sense that this same concern would apply to dream theory. The Rambam categorically rejected any superstitious basis for Halakha even rejecting from his Mishne Torah halakhot or warnings regarding human health that were found in the Talmud or after his time included in the Shulkhan Arukh. While Talmudic dream theory is certainly interesting i would never present it as at all superior to what Modern Psychology teaches us.