Thus, when the State of Israel seeks shalom with all her neighbors, she does not mean a cease-fire, but rather a constructive and meaningful peace for all the peoples in the Middle East. Dynamic, positive and restorative action is required. The Psalmist bids us: Bakesh shalom - seek peace (34:15). Merely to stop fighting or to suspend strife is not shalom as Jews understand it. Shalom: What lies between peace and Hello In Hebrew, we welcome each other with the blessing SHALOM, when we meet and when we separate (Hello. Packed into shalom are concepts like wholeness, peace, security, tranquility, completeness, contentment, safety and well-being. Shalom has a host of meanings some denote external circumstances, others internal feelings or state of mind. But today, on the streets of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, we are far more likely to hear one Israeli greeting another with Shalom! Mah shelomcha? The English equivalent is “Hello! How are you?” Literally, the phrase means, “What is your peace?” Grace is offered by our perfect God who generously grants his unmerited favor upon us. It’s important to note that both words point back to God himself. The traditional greeting among Jews is shalom aleichem, peace unto you to which the response is aleichem shalom, to you, peace. Peace (e irene in Greek) points us to the Hebrew notion of shalom, which refers not just to a lack of conflict, but wholeness, wellness, harmony, and even prosperity. One such word is shalom, which, in everyday usage, can mean either “hello” or “goodbye.” 'Prince of peace' can only be called a 'Hebrew idiom' in the sense that its an idiom that happens in this case to be written in Hebrew. It is obvious 'Peace', or in its elaborated form 'Peace of mind', is a blessing from God, it is a grace to us when we believe. We Jews cherish the allusions, aspirations and emotions intimately associated with certain Hebrew words. Roman 15:33 (NIV) - The God of peace be with you all.
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