Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

The Dream

Based on a European Jewish folk tale.

Once there was a woman who lived in a simple village. She had a simple life, with few needs. One night, she had a dream. She dreamed a treasure was buried under a bridge far away, in the capital city. The dream did not feel like a dream at all. It felt as though it was really happening to her. Have you ever had a dream like that? She saw herself approaching the city, digging under the bridge, and discovering a beautiful box full of the best treasures. The dream filled her with desire for something she previously did not even know she lacked.

The next night, the woman had the same dream. It was just as before. She was even wearing the same clothes and her gray coat.

On the third night, she wondered if she would dream again. She did and all the details were the same. She was now convinced that there was indeed treasure to be found under the capital bridge. She asked her neighbors to watch her house, put on her gray coat, and set off for the long trip to the capital.

After a few days, she arrived. When she approached the capital bridge, she was surprised to see a guard. Thinking that the guard would surely not let her dig under the bridge, she waited. But she could not gain access to the bridge; when one guard went off duty, another came on. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She approached the guard and confessed that she had dreamed she would come to the capital bridge, dig in the earth, and find a rare treasure.

"That is funny," said the guard." For the past few nights, I have had a most vivid dream, too. I dreamed of a woman, looking just like you, who lived in a simple house in a simple village, far, far away. But the strangest part of the dream was that in the oven of the woman's house was hidden a rare, beautiful treasure."

Upon hearing this, the woman hurried back home. Sure enough, there was a treasure hidden in her oven. It had been right where she could posses it all along.