Shalom

File:SHALOM1.JPG

Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) is a Hebrew word meaning peace. As it does in English, it can refer to either peace between two entities (like between two countries), or to inner peace, calmness or safety of one individual. It is also used as a greeting to either say hello or farewell, and is found in many other expressions and names. Its equivalent cognate in Arabic is salaam.

Etymology

The word shalom derives from the root shin-lamedh-mem (ש.ל.ם), which has cognates in many Semitic languages, and means completeness, fulfillment, wellbeing, a concept usually encapsulated by translation in the word peace.

Hence usage of shalom in the Hebrew Bible often refers to conditions related to peace: safety, health and prosperity of individuals and nations.

In expressions

The word shalom is used in a variety of expressions and contexts in Hebrew speech and writing:

• Shalom aleichem (שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם; literally "peace be upon you"), this expression is used to greet others and is a Hebrew equivalent of "hello". The appropriate response to such a greeting is "upon you be peace" (aleichem shalom). This is a cognate of the Arabic Assalamu alaikum.

• Shalom by itself is a very common abbreviation, and is used in Modern Israeli Hebrew to both greet and farewell.

• Shabbat shalom (שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם) is a common greeting used on Shabbat (the Jewish sabbath). This is most prominent in areas with Mizrahi, Sephardi or Modern Israeli influence. Many Ashkenazi communities in the Jewish diaspora use Yiddish Gut shabbes in preference or interchangably.

• Ma sh'lom'cha (מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ; literally "what is your peace/wellbeing?") is a Hebrew equivalent of the English "how are you?".

• Alav hashalom (עַלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם; literally "upon him is peace") is a phrase used in some Jewish communities after mentioning the name of a deceased respected individual. The Islamic equivalent is "Peace be upon him" (or just PBUH; Arabic: alayhi is-salaam), most commonly used after mention of Muhammad.

• Oseh shalom is the start of a passage commonly found as a concluding sentence in much Jewish liturgy (including the birkat hamazon, kaddish and personal amida prayers). The full sentence is "עוֹשֶֹה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶֹה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ,וְעַל כָּל יִשְֹרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.", which translates to English as "He who makes peace in His heights may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen."

Related words in Modern Hebrew include l'shalem (לְשַׁלֵּם), "to pay" and shalem (שָׁלֵם), "complete".

Used as a name

Shalom as a name for people

Shalom is also common in modern Hebrew in Israel, as a (usually male) given name or a surname.

Notable people named Shalom include:

• Silvan Shalom (Israeli politician), and his wife Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes
• Sholom Aleichem (Yiddish author)
• Shalom Harlow (model and actress)
• Shalom Carmy (rabbi)
• Shalom Shachna (rabbi)
• Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (rabbi)

Shalom as a name for organizations

Shalom can be part of an organization's name.

The name of the following organizations and places refer to "peace" between Israel and its Arab neighbors:

• Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
• Brit Shalom
• Gush Shalom
• Hevel Shalom
• Neve Shalom
• Shalom Sesame

Shalom as name for synagogues or structures

Shalom is used as part of other names, such as for synagogues, as in:

• Beth Sholom Synagogue
• Shalom Meir tower

See also

• Salaam