In honor of Israel’s 75th birthday, Israel365 is excited to launch a new series of essays that will unlock the secrets of the Hebrew Bible!
Excerpted from Rabbi Akiva Gersh’s forthcoming book, 75 Hebrew Words You Need to Understand the Bible, these essays illuminate the connection between related Hebrew words, revealing Biblical secrets only accessible through Hebrew.
Enjoy the series – and happy 75th birthday to the State of Israel!
שÖø×××Ö¹×
SHALOM
SHA-LOME
PEACE
××Ø××× ××Ø×× × ×¢× ××× × ×Ŗ××××Ŗ×× ×©×××.
×××× ×¢× ××¢×× ××Ŗ× ×××× ×××Ø× ××Ŗ ×¢×× ×ש×××.
Shalom, Hebrew for āpeace,ā is so central to Biblical values that the sages teach Shalom is one of Godās names. In Jewish thought, peace is not merely the absence of war, but rather a harmonious integration of different perspectives and attitudes, in which each view finds its place and is properly appreciated as part of a greater whole. For this reason, shalom is derived from the Hebrew word shalem, meaning āwhole.ā
āHer ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peacefulā (Proverbs 3:17). Every commandment, teaching and detail of the Bible is dedicated to bringing true peace to the world. As the sages say, āGod has not found a vessel which contains blessing for Israel but peace.ā Only when and where there is peace can Godās blessings truly manifest.
When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the priests blessed the nation every day with the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24-26). The last of these blessings states āMay God bestow favor upon you and grant you peace!ā Every Friday night at the Shabbat dinner table, Jewish parents use these very same verses to bless their children. The loftiest blessing we can bestow upon our children is peace.
āGod will grant strength to His people; God will bless His people with peaceā (Psalms 29:11). Godās ultimate goal is to bestow peace upon His chosen people, but the path to peace is neither simple nor easy. When confronted with external enemies, the people of Israel must possess and wield strength until its enemies are subdued. This is the goal of the Israel Defense Forces, whose mission is āto preserve the State of Israel, to protect its independence, and to foil attempts by its enemies to disrupt the normal life within it.ā With strength we can achieve peace.
