Shalom Aleichem
shabbat5 paragraphs · Hebrew with nikud, English alongside · tap 🔊 to hear audio
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּֽלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּ֒לָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
shalom alekhem malakhe hasharet malakhe elyon mimmelekh malkhe hammelakhim haqqadosh barukh hu:
Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Yehudah said: “Two angels accompany a man on the eve of Shabbos from the synagogue to his home, one good angel and one evil angel.” When the person arrives home to find the lights burning, the table set, and the bed made, the good angel exclaims, “May it be God's will that it be so next Shabbos.” But if not so, if the the house is dark and in disorder, the evil angel exclaims, “May it be God's will that it be so next Shabbos.” The good angel is compelled to answer Amein.—Maseches Shabbos 119bThe custom of singing Sholom Aleichem, peace upon you, upon returning from the synagogue is based on the above Talmudic teaching. Since every Jew is accompanied home by these two angels, it is fitting that he welcome them into his home. Obviously, one should prepare for Shabbos in such manner to evoke the angels' best wishes.
בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּֽלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּ֒לָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
bo'akhem leshalom malakhe hashalom malakhe elyon mimmelekh malkhe hammelakhim haqqadosh barukh hu:
Peace upon you, angels of God's service, angels of the Most High, from the King of kings-of-kings, the Holy One, blessed is He.
בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּֽלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּ֒לָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
barekhuni leshalom malakhe hashalom malakhe elyon mimmelekh malkhe hammelakhim haqqadosh barukh hu:
Come in peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High, from the King of kings-of-kings the Holy One, blessed is He.
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּֽלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּ֒לָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
tsetekhem leshalom malakhe hashalom malakhe elyon mimmelekh malkhe hammelakhim haqqadosh barukh hu:
Bless me with peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High from the King of kings-of-kings the Holy One, blessed is He.
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶֽיךָ: יְהֹוָה יִשְׁמָר־צֵאתְ֒ךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ. מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם:
ki malakhayw yetsavveh-llakh lishmarekha bekhol-derakhekha: Adonai yishmor-tsetekha uvo'ekha. me'attah ve'ad-olam:
Go in peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High from the King of kings-of-kings the Holy One, blessed is He.
Hebrew text and English translation from Sefaria, used under Creative Commons.
Yaacov, native Jerusalemite
Want to go further with a teacher?
Start with a 25-minute trial lesson, one to one, on the text you are reading: Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Yiddish or Aramaic. It counts toward your first month.
Study 1-on-1 with YaacovPrefer a small group? Eight-week groups