Shalom Aleichem - Shalawat Global

Shalom Aleichem - Shalawat Global

Hebrew and Arabic mixed on medley (sholawat) by Kiai Kanjeng.
Property of Progress Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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Shalom aleichem (or sholom aleichem) is a greeting version in Hebrew, literally meaning "Peace be upon you." The appropriate response is "Aleichem shalom," or "Upon you be peace."

This form of greeting was traditional among the Ashkenazi Jews communities of Eastern Europe. However, it is very similar to the Arabic-language greeting used by many Muslims throughout the world, assalamu alaikum. The Christian Maltese phrase, sliem ghalikom is cognate with both Arabic and Hebrew equivalents. The greeting is used in plural - so as to greet multiple people - even when greeting a lone individual. One religious explanation for this is that one greets both a body and a soul. But it ought to be noted that many plural Hebrew words are used in reference to something singular.
Shalom could be also interpreted as "The Peace": a peace personally felt, a deep calmness and mental balance, which is said to come to those who appreciate God.

Friday night Shabbat welcoming song.
Shalom Aleichem is also a traditional song sung Friday night at the beginning of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. In this case the words are used to welcome in the angels who accompany a person home on the eve of the Sabbath. It can be sung with many different melodies, but it is always sung with great happiness and joy.

According to the Ashkenazi tradition, the song in Hebrew language transliteration is as follows:

Shalom aleichem malachei ha-shareis malachei elyon, mi-melech malchei ha-melachim Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu.

Bo'achem le-shalom malachei ha-shalom malachei elyon, mi-melech malchei ha-melachim Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu.

Barchuni le-shalom malachei ha-shalom malachei elyon, mi-melech malchei ha-melachim Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu.

Tzeis'chem le-shalom malachei ha-shalom malachei elyon, mi-melech malchei ha-melachim Ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu.


The words to the song translate:
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 your departure be in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.


Melodies:
The slow well-known melody for the song was composed by the American Rabbi Israel Goldfarb in May, 1918 while sitting near the Alma Mater statue in front Low Memorial Libraryat Columbia University. Goldfarb's work is often presumed to be a traditional Hasidic melody. He wrote in 1963, "The popularity of the melody traveled not only throughout this country but throughout the world, so that many people came to believe that the song was handed down from Mt. Sinai by Moses."