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Welcoming Shabbat - Shalom Aleichem

Shalom Aleichem -

May Peace be upon You

In many Jewish homes, it is customary to sing Shabbat Table Songs (zemirot) upon returning home from the Shabbat-eve services, just before partaking of the Sabbath meal. One of the most popular and beautiful of these is called Shalom Aleichem - "Peace be upon you."

Each verse is sung three times:

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Peace upon you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High,
of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

Come in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,
of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

Bless me with peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,
of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

May you depart in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,
of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

Shalom Aleichem - and Kabbalah

The Talmud (Mas. Shabbat 119b) says,

    Two ministering angels accompany man on the eve of the Sabbath from the synagogue to his home, one a good [angel] and one an evil [one]. And when he arrives home and finds the lamp burning, the table laid and the bed covered with a spread, the good angel exclaims, 'May it be even thus on another Sabbath [too],' and the evil angel unwillingly responds 'amen'. But if not, then the evil angel exclaims, 'May it be even thus on another Sabbath [too],' and the good angel unwillingly responds, 'amen'.
     

Note: Shalom Aleichem was introduced by Kabbalists in the 17th century, who wrote it in response to the foregoing midrash from the Talmud. Since it is based on the idea of communicating directly to angels, most Christians would reject the mysticism associated with the words of this song as bad theology. Nevertheless, the hauntingly beautiful melody makes it a favorite Sabbath song for many.


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