Q. If a partner of mine told me that his deceased mother came to him in a dream and told him that he owes me five thousand dollars and gave me an envelope with the cash. I went through our accounts and could not find anything to reflect his noble assertion, but he totally insists he owes me the money, what should I do?
A. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 30a) teaches that "divre chalomos lo maalin velo moridin,' or matters of dreams don't make any difference, and Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 255: 9) rules accordingly especially on monetary issues. Although, there are many references in Tanach and the Talmud to the importance and trascendence of certain dreams, Rambam (More Nebuchim 2: 41) explains that it depends on the type of dream and dreamer and indded some of them can have the quality of prophesy, however, mostly do not.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that in this particular case, the proper procedure is to reasert clearly to your partner that as far as you know, and after going through your financial records, your partner does not owe you anything. But if he insists you re willing to receive it only as a gift. (You may use it for charitable purposes).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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