Translated and abridged by Rabbi Chanan Morrison
Parshat Behaalotcha
In contrast to the unique level and clarity of Moses' prophecy, ordinary prophecy is bestowed through the medium of visions and dreams:
"If someone among you experiences divine prophecy, I will make Myself known to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream." (Num. 12:6)
Why Dreams?
Dreams, Rav Kook wrote, serve an important function in the world. Great dreams are the very foundation of the universe. Dreams exist on many levels. There are the prescient dreams of prophets, and the conscious dreaming of poets. There are the idealistic dreams of great visionaries for a better world; and there are our national dreams of redemption — "When God will return the captivity of Zion, we will be like dreamers" (Psalms 126:1).
Of course, not every dream falls under the category of a great dream. Some dreams are inconsequential, as it says, "Dreams speak falsely" (Zechariah 10:2). What determines whether a dream is prophetic or meaningless?
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