Inspired by Why was Hosea acceptable to the people if he took his adulterous wife back?
If one were to dream while sleeping of him or herself doing any sort of sin, is it a sin? (sources)
asked Jan 7, 2013 at 16:57
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There's only one type of sin that I can think of that might possibly be considered a sin if done in a dream, because it is the only one with real-world consequences. Unless someone actually acts in some way while sleeping, in which case then you have a different question altogether, thinking about sinning is not a sin.– Seth JCommented Jan 7, 2013 at 17:06
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1@SethJ Even any action done while sleeping is seemingly an Oneis.– Double AA ♦Commented Jan 7, 2013 at 17:11
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are you asking about the notion of machshava/ma'aseh for aveiros or about whether dreaming is considered machshava?– rosendsCommented Jan 7, 2013 at 17:11
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1@DoubleAA Are you liable for damages when an oneis?– Avrohom YitzchokCommented Jan 7, 2013 at 17:48
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3@AvrohomYitzchok See Tos. Bava Kama 4a (s.v. Keivan) that someone is only liable if they recklessly went to sleep near fragile items. If someone put the items there after the person went to sleep, the sleeper is not liable.– FredCommented Jan 7, 2013 at 21:30
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1 Answer
Certainly not.
There is a Gemara (Berachos 57a) which mentions interpretations of various dreams, and many of them include doing a sin. For example:
הבא על נערה מאורסה יצפה לתורה שנאמר (דברים לג, ד) תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב אל תקרי מורשה אלא מאורשה
If one dreams he has intercourse with a betrothed maiden, he may expect to obtain knowledge of Torah, since it says, Moses commanded us a law [Torah], an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. Read not morashah [inheritance], but me'orasah [betrothed].
There are many similar scenarios listed by the Gemara, and surely if it one has committed a sin by having this dream the Gemara would have noted so and not simply said it is a good sign.
Furthermore, while in a dream state one is not conscious of their "actions," which aren't really actions at all. It seems highly unreasonable to me that anyone would call such an "act" a sin per se.
At the same time, dreams reflect a person's subconscious. Therefore, if someone is having dreams about sins, they may want to do some introspection and try to figure out if there is anything unhealthy laying beneath their surface that needs to be fixed.
