Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2011
Abstract
The Babylonian Talmud contains a sequence of fragments unified by the theme of sleep, dreams and their interpretation (tractate Berakhot 55a-57b). The passage is often referred to as "Rabbinic Dreambook".
By means of structural analysis and study of the present notions of sleep and dreams in the context of Ancient Mediterranean thought the author shows that in reality, the passage is a cluster of fragments that are connected by the theme of sleep and dreams, however,they depart and express totally incongruous theories of sleep and dreams. The present redactorial tools are typical for the Babylonian Talmud in general.
The passage is therefore not a "Rabbinic Dreambook" but only a group of pre-existing fragments, topically organized.