For The Educator, a note from the songwriter:
The word Shalom, as taught in Hebrew school, means three things: hello, goodbye, and peace. But this isn’t completely true. Shalom just means peace, and we wish peace to people when we see them and leave them. My dad loved this concept. “It’s like the Israelites were a bunch of hippies, saying ‘peace, man!’ to everybody!” And I love it too! Shalom Aleichem, the title of the traditional Shabbat song, literally means “peace to you,” and is a traditional greeting, answered with “Aleichem Shalom!” At the Shabbat table, we sing to the angels, but in this song, we are singing to each other. Peace to you!
Consider and discuss:
-What does it mean to wish someone peace?
-How can you wish peace to someone?
Lyrics:
When you come and when you go
Peace to you
When you reap and when you sow
Peace to you
When you give and when you take
Peace to you
When you sleep and when you wake
Peace to you
Chorus:
Shalom Aleichem
Malachei Hashareit
Malachei Elyon
Malachei Elyon
Mi Melech
Malchei Hamlachim
HaKadosh Baruch Hu
Hakadosh Baruch Hu
Peace to you
When you hear and when you speak
Peace to you
When you’re strong and when you’re weak
Peace to you
When you think and when you pray
Peace to you
Every breath and every day
Peace to you
Chorus
When you love and when you learn
Peace to you
When you have and when you yearn
Peace to you
When you laugh and when you grieve
Peace to you
When you enter and when you leave
Peace to you
Chorus