Shalom

Shalom (Hebrew|שָׁלוֹם) is a Hebrew word meaning "peace", "completeness", and "welfare" [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1192380589931&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Glamour of the Grammar] in the [http://www.jpost.com Jerusalem Post] ] [ [http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H07965&Version=kjv Blue Letter Bible] ] [ [http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?search=H7999&version=kjv As mentioned in the Strong's Concordance] ] and can be used idiomatically to mean "hello", and "goodbye". As it does in English, it can refer to either peace between two entities (especially between man and God or between two countries), or to the well-being, welfare or safety of an individual or a group of individuals. The word is also found in many other expressions and names. Its equivalent cognate in Arabic is "salaam", "sliem" in Maltese, Shlomo (ܫܠܡܐ) in Syriac-Assyrian and "sälam" in Ethiopian Semitic languages from the Hebrew root shin-lamed-mem (ש.ל.ם).

In expressions

The Word "shalom" can be used for all parts of speech; as a noun, adjective, verb, and as an adverb. It categorizes all shaloms. The word "shalom" is used in a variety of expressions and contexts in Hebrew speech and writing:
*"Shalom aleichem" (Hebrew|שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם; "well-being be upon you" or "may you be well"), this expression is used to greet others and is a Hebrew equivalent of "hello". Also, for example; "shabat shalom!" The appropriate response to such a greeting is "upon you be well-being" ( עֲלֵיכֶם שָׁלוֹם, "aleichem shalom"). This is a cognate of the Arabic "Assalamu alaikum". On Erev Shabbat (Sabbath eve), Jewish people have a custom of singing a song which is called Shalom aleichem, before the Kiddush over wine of the Shabbat dinner is recited.
*In the Gospels, Jesus often uses the greeting "Peace be unto you," a translation of "shalom aleichem".
*"Shalom" by itself is a very common abbreviation, and is used in Modern Israeli Hebrew to both greet and farewell. In this it is similar to the Hawaiian "aloha", the (rather old-fashioned) English "good evening" and the Indian "namaste". Also in Israel, especially among secular people, "b'ye" (English) and "yallah b'ye" (a mixture of Arabic and English) is popular. "Shalom" is also used by Jewish people around the world, and even by many non-Jewish people.
*"Shabbat shalom" (Hebrew|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 interchangeably.
*"Ma sh'lom'cha" (Hebrew|מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ; "what is your well-being/peace?") is a Hebrew equivalent of the English "how are you?". This is the form addressed to a single male. The form for addressing a single female is "Ma sh'lomech?" For addressing several females, "Ma sh'lomchen?" For a group of males or a mixed-gender group, "Ma sh'lomchem?"
*"Alav hashalom" (Hebrew|עַלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם; "upon him is peace") is a phrase used in some Jewish communities, especially Ashkenazi ones, after mentioning the name of a deceased respected individual.
*"Oseh shalom" is the part of a passage commonly found as a concluding sentence in much Jewish liturgy (including the "birkat hamazon", "kaddish" and personal "amidah" prayers). The full sentence is Hebrew|עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ, וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן ("Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleynu, ve'al kol Yisrael ve'imru amen"), 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."
* The word "Shalom" is widely used in popular Israeli songs such as "In Our Garden," "Ratziti Sheteda," and "Shalom Chaverim."
*U.S. President Bill Clinton ended his eulogy for Yitzhak Rabin with the words "Shalom, chaver" (Goodbye, friend).
*The word 'Lom (and occasionally Sh'lom) have been used (especially by Jewish teenagers) as the contracted forms of Shalom in street slang.
*The word Shalom or in extreme circumstances "Gross Shalom" also is frequently used in the UK to describe a particularly attractive girl

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

Used as a name

halom as a name for people

"Shalom" is also common in modern Hebrew in Israel, as a given name or a surname. It is usually used by men as a given name but there are women named Shalom as well.

Notable people named Shalom include:
*Sholom Schwartzbard Poet, assassin of Symon Petliura
*Silvan Shalom (Israeli politician), and his wife Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes
*Sholem Aleichem (Yiddish author)
*Sholem Asch (Yiddish author)
*Shalom Auslander (American author)
*Shalom Ben-Chorin (journalist and theologist)
*Shalom Carmy (rabbi)
*Shalom Hanoch (Israeli rock musician)
*Shalom Harlow (model and actress)
*Shalom Shachna (rabbi)
*Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (rabbi)

Related male names include Shlomi (Hebrew name) ("my well-being") and Solomon (Hebrew "Shlomo").

Related female names include Shulamit, Shulamith, Shlomtsion or Shlomzion and Salome and Shlomith.

halom 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

halom as name for synagogues or structures

"Shalom" is used as part of other names, such as for synagogues, as in:
*Beth Sholom Synagogue
*Shalom BC, Jewish Information and Referrals in Vancouver, Canada
*Shalom Park in Charlotte, North Carolina and Denver, Colorado
*Shalom Meir Tower in Tel Aviv, Israel
*Shalom Christian Academy in Marion, Pennsylvania
*Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California

halom as the name for events

* The 1982 Lebanon War is known in Hebrew as "Milhemeth Shlom Hagalil" (Hebrew: hebrew|מלחמת שלום הגליל), which means in English, "The War for the Shalom (or Well-Being) of the Galilee".

Other uses as/in names

* SS "Shalom", an ocean liner operated by Zim Lines, Israel 1964-1967.

Notes

Strong's Concordance

ee also

* S-L-M
* Shlama
* Salaam
* Inner peace
* Namaste