Dreams are a common part of daily life to which the Talmudic Sages attribute great importance. However, on a more careful look, we find conflicting thoughts about dreams in the Talmud and a steadily decreasing concern for them over the ages. As the centuries passed, life changed dramatically and dreams seemed to lose some of their importance. Does that affect halacha? I. Responding to Dreams The Gemara (Shabbat 11a) says that fasting is effective to neutralize a bad dream like a fire burns kindling. If you have a bad dream, you may fast even on Shabbat, a day on which...