Order for turning a dream toward good

Turning a dream toward good is a prayer custom performed before three friends, intended to strengthen the heart and ask for good. A dream is not evidence of what will happen; this text serves reassurance and prayer, not prediction.

Text of the prayer

First, those offering reassurance say this verse to the dreamer: ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell me.’

The dreamer says three times in succession: ‘I saw a good dream.’

Those offering reassurance answer three times:

‘You saw a good dream. Your dream is good and may it be good. May the Merciful One turn it to good. Seven times may it be decreed from heaven that it be good, and it shall be good. It is good and may it be good.’

The dreamer and those offering reassurance say this seven times. While they offer reassurance, the dreamer says:
‘I have sinned, acted perversely and transgressed; I have violated positive commandments and prohibitions.’

Those offering reassurance then recite three verses of reversal, three of redemption and three of peace. The dreamer says:
‘You turned my mourning into dancing; You loosened my sackcloth and girded me with joy.’

They answer:
‘Then the maiden shall rejoice in dancing, young and old together; I shall turn their mourning into gladness, comfort them and bring them joy out of their sorrow. The LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you.’

The dreamer says: ‘He redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me, for many were with me.’

They answer:
‘The people said to Saul: Shall Jonathan die, who accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Far be it! As the LORD lives,
not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he acted with God this day. The people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. The redeemed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing, everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall attain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee.’

The dreamer says: ‘Creating the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to the far and to the near, says the LORD, and I shall heal him.’

They answer: ‘A spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the Thirty: We are yours, David, and with you, son of Jesse. Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helper, for your God helps you. David received them and appointed them leaders of the band. You shall say: So may you live; peace to you, peace to your household and peace to all you have. May the LORD give strength to His people; may the LORD bless His people with peace.’

The dreamer says three times: ‘LORD, I heard Your report and was afraid.’

They respond: ‘LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.’

They say this three times. The dreamer says three times:
‘A song of ascents. I lift my eyes to the mountains: from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.’

They respond: ‘May He not let your foot slip; may your keeper not slumber. Behold, the keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. By day the sun shall not strike you, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall guard you from every evil; He shall guard your soul. The LORD shall guard your going out and your coming in, now and forever.’

They say this three times.
The dreamer says three times: ‘You make known to me the path of life.’

They respond: ‘Fullness of joys is in Your presence; pleasures are at Your right hand forever.’

They say this three times:
The dreamer says three times: ‘The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: Thus shall you bless the children of Israel; say to them:’

Those offering reassurance say: ‘May the LORD bless you and guard you. May the LORD shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the LORD lift His face toward you and grant you peace. They shall place My Name upon the children of Israel, and I shall bless them.’

They say this to the dreamer three times:

Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already accepted your deeds. Give charity. Repentance, prayer and charity avert the severity of the decree. Peace upon us and upon all Israel, amen. May a good sign and good fortune be ours and all Israel’s, amen.

Master of the universe, I am Yours and my dreams are Yours. I dreamed a dream and do not know what it means. May it be Your will, LORD my God and God of my ancestors, that all my dreams concerning me and all Israel be for good—whether I dreamed about myself or about others, or others dreamed about me. If they are good, strengthen and uphold them, and may they be fulfilled in me and in them like the dreams of Joseph the righteous. If they need healing, heal them as Hezekiah king of Judah was healed of his illness, Miriam the prophetess of her skin affliction, Naaman of his skin affliction, the waters of Marah through Moses our teacher, and the waters of Jericho through Elisha. Just as You transformed the curse of wicked Balaam from curse to blessing, so turn all my dreams concerning me and all Israel to good. Guard me, be gracious to me and accept me. Amen.

Sources for further study: Berakhot 55; Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 220. Follow the community’s prayer text and the rabbi’s guidance.