Berakhot 57a (נז.) — the Talmud in English

in a dream,

in a dream

of

One who sees a fig tree in a dream,

it is a sign for him that

his Torah is preserved within him, as it is stated

(Proverbs 27:18):

“He who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit.”

In Eruvin [54a] Rabbi Yohanan said: What is meant by the verse "He who tends a fig-tree will eat its fruit"? Why were the words of Torah likened to a fig? What is this fig? As long as a man attends to it he finds figs in it; likewise the words of Torah — as long as a man ponders them he finds taste in them. And the taste in the Torah causes its remembrance. And in Chazon Tov Chazon Tov explained that the fig requires two guardings: (a) since each [fig] is finished on a different day, and on the next it becomes overripe, its guarding is that it should not become overripe; (b) that it not be stolen when it is spread out for drying. Corresponding to this the Torah requires a guarding that one not begin the study of a new matter before he repeats and knows thoroughly what he has learned, and further a guarding from matters that cause the learning to be forgotten; and see Perek BaShir paragraph 24.

One who sees pomegranates in a dream,

if he sees small pomegranates,

small,

it is a sign that his

business

[will increase and]

his business will grow like a pomegranate!

That is, his business affairs will be numerous. But if he sees large pomegranates,

large,

it is a sign that

his

[business will grow]

his business will become great like a pomegranate!

That is, his business affairs will be large like a pomegranate.

And if he sees pomegranates

split

[open],

if he is a Torah scholar, he should anticipate Torah, as it is stated:

(Song of Songs 8:2):

“I would give you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate,”

which is a metaphor for Torah.

But if he is an ignoramus, he should anticipate mitzvot, as it is stated: “Your temple is like a split pomegranate,”

and they interpreted it:

What is the meaning of “your temple”? —

That even the empty ones among you are full of mitzvot like a pomegranate,

which is full of seeds!

One who sees olives in a dream,

if

small

they are, it is a sign that he will

be fruitful and multiply

and his business will endure like olives!

And this applies,

specifically if he sees the

fruit

of the olive tree,

but

if he sees the

trees

of the olive, it is a sign that

he will have many sons, as it is stated

(Psalms, there):

“Your children will be like olive saplings around your table.”

In Perek BaShir he explained that the intent is six in one womb [because the song of the great swarms is "your sons are like olive shoots", and they bear six in one womb, as explained in Yalkut Shimoni on Shemot, hint 163]. And in Chazon Tov he explained the wording of the Chazon Tov he explained the wording of the verse "surrounding your table", because a plain table like the Tabernacle's table measures one cubit in length and one cubit in width, and since a man's place is one cubit, there is around him room for six to sit. And see note 20 that the opening of the verse "a fruitful vine" indicates abundance of children, because blood is likened to wine, and a woman whose menses are abundant will have many children; and its end only teaches that they will be around his table and not expelled from it, as explained by Rabbenu Bachya Bereshit see there Rabbenu Bachya (Bereshit 34:1) — see there.

Some say: One who sees an olive tree in a dream,

a good name will go out for him, as it is stated

(Jeremiah 11:16):

“A leafy olive tree, beautiful with shapely fruit, the Lord called your name.”

. In the Midrash Shocher Tov (Psalms 128) it did not read the words "he who sees an olive in a dream," and the sense of those who say so is aimed at one who sees an olive tree. That is, a noble tree that stands by itself, and as they said [there and in the Jerusalem Talmud Kilayim 1:3] that olives are not grafted.

One who sees olive oil in a dream should anticipate the light

that is in

Torah, as it is stated

(Exodus 27:20):

“And they shall bring you pure olive oil

pressed for illumination”; and “illumination” refers to Torah, as it is stated (Proverbs 6:23), “For a mitzva is a lamp and Torah is light.”

One who sees dates in a dream,

it is a sign that

his sins have ended,

as it is stated

(Lamentations 4:22):

“Your iniquity has ended, daughter of Zion.”

And “tamar” is an acrostic for “the teachers have ended.” “Teachers” is an expression for sins, as it is stated: “Hear now, you rebels.”

Rav Yosef said: One who sees a goat in a dream,

it is an indication that

the year will be blessed for him.

And if he sees many

goats,

many

years will be blessed for him, as it is stated

(Proverbs 27:26):

“And the goats’ milk will be for your food,”

meaning that you will have enough goats’ milk for your needs.

One who sees myrtle in a dream,

it is an indication that

his possessions will prosper for him!

The leaves of the myrtle are arranged in groups, one above the other, like a braid, indicating that his possessions will likewise endure for him and for his descendants after him.

And if he has no possessions,

it is an indication that

an inheritance will come to him from elsewhere.

According to Siftei Chachamim and Siftei Chachamim, and HaGra explained that the intent is the arrangement HaGra explained that the intent is the arrangement that the Sages said in Bava Kamma [107a] that your possessions be tripartite: one third in grain, one third in olives and one third in vineyards. And in Chazon Tov he sided that the intent is Chazon Tov he sided that the intent is the three causes on which wealth depends, as explained in Niddah [56b]: that trade in merchandise will increase, and negotiation with integrity, and he will seek mercy; or the three merits mentioned in Shabbat [119a] as capable of providing sustenance: tithe, honor of Torah, honor of Shabbat; or the three types of wealth mentioned in Baba Batra [153b]: wealth of fields and vineyards apparent to all, wealth of lands and properties bringing steady rental income, and wealth of produce which yields income from time to time.

Ulla said—and some say that a tanna taught it in a baraita—and this

indication applies specifically when he

saw

myrtles

in their natural place

[where they grow, while still attached].

One who sees an etrog in a dream,

it is a sign that

he is glorious before his Master, as it is stated

of the etrog (Leviticus 23:40):

“The fruit of a beautiful tree, branches of date palms.”

The Mahartz Chayut suggested that the words and branches Mahartz Chayut suggested that the words "and branches of palm trees" revolve around the hint of the lulav [nearby], for from these words they learned in Sukkah [5b] "a date-palm has only one heart" etc., however see there that this is not a biblical drash but a lesson derived from the nature of the date.

One who sees a lulav in a dream,

it is a sign that

he has only one heart devoted to his Father in Heaven!

For “lulav” is an acrostic for “he has a heart for Him,” indicating that he possesses only the good inclination, unlike other people, who have two hearts—the good inclination and the evil inclination—as they expounded in the Mishna from the verse, “with all your heart.”

One who sees a goose in a dream should anticipate wisdom, as it is stated

(Proverbs 1:20):

“Wisdoms cry aloud outside

in the streets she raises her voice.”

Rashi and they objected in

Likewise, the goose makes its voice heard in the open streets.

And one who has intercourse with it

[with the goose] in a dream, it is an indication to him that he will

become a yeshiva head!

For he will proclaim and command the masses, just as the goose makes its voice heard publicly.

Rav Ashi said: I saw it

—the goose—

and had intercourse with it

in a dream,

and

indeed

I rose to greatness,

I became a yeshiva head in Mata Meḥasya!

One who sees a rooster in a dream should anticipate a male child.

And if he sees several

roosters, he should anticipate

several

male children!

One who sees a

hen

in a dream,

should anticipate a beautiful garden

[and some say: a house of study ]

and

a

joy!

For “hen” is an acrostic for “a beautiful garden and joy.”

One who sees eggs in a dream,

it is a sign that

his request is suspended

and stands before the Holy One, blessed be He, and it is uncertain whether it will be granted or not! Like these eggs, whose edible contents are sealed and covered within their shells.

And if he sees in his dream that the eggs

were broken,

it is a sign that

his request has been fulfilled!

Just as the food inside the eggs has been revealed.

And likewise,

if he sees

nuts, or cucumbers, or glass vessels, or any

things

that break like

these

ones,

if he sees in his dream that they were broken, the indication alluded to by each of them is fulfilled.

One who enters a city

in his dream, it is an indication that

his wishes have been fulfilled, as it is stated

(Psalms 107:30):

“And He brought them to the haven of their desire.”

A city is called a “haven,” and since Scripture calls it “the haven of their desire,” it indicates that his desire will be fulfilled there.

One who shaves his head in a dream, it is a favorable sign for him,

because shaving is a sign of greatness and glory, as we find with Joseph when he appeared before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14): “And he shaved himself and changed his clothes.” And if he sees that he is shaving

his head and beard,

it is a favorable sign

for him and for his entire family!

. That is, when he arises and says the verse "and he shaved and changed his garments" [as above], and the Gemara's intent is that it is permitted for the dream-interpreter to interpret favorably if he says so. . It is possible that the omen is because shaving spreads to another place; or that the beard itself proves that it is fitting for children.

One who sits

in his dream

in a small boat

[a vessel],

a good name will go out for him.

And one who sits

in a large boat,

a good name will go out

for him and for his entire family!

And this applies

only in the manner that

he

sees that the boat is

floating high

[elevated] and moving high upon the water, rather than submerged in it.

One who relieves himself

[attends to his needs]

in a dream, it is a favorable sign

for

him!

For it indicates that his disgrace and shame are separating from him and leaving him,

as it is stated

(Isaiah 51:14):

“The crouching one hastens to be released,

and he shall not die in the pit, nor shall his bread be lacking.” “Crouching” is an expression of emptying, and they expounded it as referring to the emptying of his bowels.

And this applies

only in the manner that

he

sees that he relieves himself but

does not wipe

himself afterward, and his hands do not become soiled.

One who goes up to a roof in a dream rises to greatness!

And if he sees in his dream that ultimately he

descends

from the roof, he is

descending from his greatness!

Abaye and Rava both said:

This is not a sign that he will descend from his greatness, because

since he

has already

ascended

to the roof, he has

ascended!

Since he was alluded to as ascending to greatness, the rest of the dream consists of meaningless matters, and he will not subsequently descend.