We Are a People Who Dream
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We Are a People Who Dream
Like Yosef dreaming in a pit and the Maccabees kindling one cruse of oil, we remain a people who refuse to let darkness extinguish our vision — for dreaming is not naivety but a sacred discipline rooted in our prophetic covenant.
The Sara Litton z"l Monthly Emunah Essay for Kislev:
Nightmares are dreams filled with fear and anxiety where reality becomes malleable. Yet even after experiencing collective suffering, the Jewish people have maintained the capacity to dream.
The Month of Dreams
Kislev, the ninth Hebrew month, is traditionally associated with sleep and dreams. Nine of the ten dreams recorded in the book of Bereishit (Genesis) appear in Torah portions read during this month, including:
- Yaakov's dream of the ladder at Beit El (Genesis 28:12)
- Yaakov's divine warning dream (31:24)
- Yosef's dual dreams of sheaves and stars signifying prosperity and spiritual achievement (37:6-9)
- Pharaoh's dreams about the future famine, interpreted by Yosef (Genesis 41)
Dreams Despite Darkness
Yosef's story is particularly poignant. Despite being imprisoned twice on false accusations, he maintained his vision. He dreamed of future political and economic prosperity as well as spiritual destiny and leadership for himself. Even in the depths of captivity, he never abandoned his dreams.
This pattern reflects our improbable existence today. Against all odds, the Jewish people continue to thrive, embodying the prophet Yoel's prophecy about future divine revelation.
Chanukah: The Realization of Dreams
Chanukah represents the realization of two dreams: military victory against overwhelming forces and the spiritual illumination through the miracle of the oil. The holiday celebrates our sacred determination as a people to not give up, to rise above our circumstances.
A Call to Dream
We are called to remain dreamers—to envision a brighter future, spiritual and material wealth. We must advocate for returning our captives home and work toward ultimate redemption.
The capacity to dream is not naive optimism; it is a spiritual discipline rooted in our prophetic consciousness and our covenant with the Divine. In Kislev, we embrace this calling and refuse to let darkness extinguish our vision of what can be.
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