Good everybody,
Once again, not quite sure where to post this, so I aimed here.
Somebody asked me why I always say "shalom"; why don't I just say peace like most English speakers do? I thought about it and, well, here is what I wish to share about that word;
Shalom means so much more than just “peace”. While it is true that it can mean “peace” and even “hello” and “goodbye”, the Hebrew word "shalom" is steeped in much deeper meaning.
It is important to remember that while most western languages only link a form and sound to each letter of the alphabet, the Hebrew language also has a meaning assigned to each letter of its aleph-bet (which is what eventually makes up the meaning of the word). This leads to words beyond just a spoken pronunciation in Hebrew. Each word expresses a deeper meaning rooted in emotions and intent.
Shalom carries a root significance of “harmony, wellness, contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being” (and much more). Therefore, when I say "shalom", it is not only a greeting of peace, but also to wish upon you a state of tranquillity which can only come from being complete and content in the Creator – from being in harmony with Him.
There is no single word in any western language that can convey all that the word “shalom” conveys, and that is why I use the Hebrew word SHALOM!
The following is a beautiful example;
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עַלֵינוּ, וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
(Oseh shalom bim’romav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleynu, v'al kol Yisra’el ve'imru ahmein), which translates into English as;
He who makes peace (harmony, completeness, etc.) in the High Places, He will make peace (wholeness, wellness, contentment, etc.) for us and for all of Yisra’el, and let us say ahmein.
I hope this sheds a bit more light on a tiny word and why I use it
Shalom
