Episode 53: Shabbat at Home - Shalom Aleichem
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Shabbat at Home: Shalom Aleichem
This week, in our second episode of our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana, Ellen, & Josh explore the liturgy of Shalom Aleichem. Topics include angels of good and evil at the table, different melodies used for the text, and what this poem sparks in us. Plus, we listen to our favorite versions of Shalom Aleichem!
What is your favorite Friday night Shabbat memory?
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(2:24) Nativ Pre-College Leadership Program
(6:35) Rosh Chodesh - ראש חודש - celebrating the beginning of the new Hebrew month. Learn more here
(6:49) Try Tabatchnik’s chicken soup for yourself here (not sponsored 🙂)
(7:55) Try Kineret frozen challah for yourself here & frozen chocolate chip cookie dough here (also not sponsored 🙂)
(8:26) Find Ricki’s Cookie Corner in Memphis, TN here
(9:43) “Ashke-fardic” - a made up term to describe a mix of Ashkenazi and Sephardic heritage. Learn more about Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews here
(9:43) Shalom Aleichem
Shalom aleichem, malachei hasharet, malachei Elyon, mimelech malchei hamlachim, Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
Bo-achem I'shalom, malachei hashalom, malachei Elyon, mimelech malchei hamlachim, Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
Bar'chuni I'shalom, malachei hashalom, malachei Elyon, mimelech malchei hamlachim, Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
Tzeit'chem I'shalom, malachei hashalom, malachei Elyon, mimelech malchei hamlachim, Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
שָלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָרֵת מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיו
מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Peace unto you angels who served the One, angels of the Most High, from the Majesty of Majesties, the Holy Blessed One.
Come in peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High from the Majesty of Majesties, the Holy Blessed One.
Bless us with peace, angels of peace angels, of the Most High from the Majesty of Majesties, the Holy Blessed One.
Go in peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High from the Majesty of Majesties, the Holy Blessed One. (Translation from Rabbi Jill Hammer in the Romemu Siddur)
(17:38) Shabbat Hamalka by Chayim Nachman Bialik (Source)
HaChama Mairosh HaElanot Nistalka,
Bo'ooh Vinetzeh
Likrat Shabbat Hamalka.
Hineh He Yaredet, Hakdoshah Haberuchah, ViEmah Malachim, tzvah shalom Oominucha.
Boee Boee Hamalka, Boee Boee Hakalah
Shalom Aleichem, malachei Hashalom!
Kibalnu pnei shabbat birnanah utfilah
Habaytah nashuvah blev maleh gilah
Shom aruch hashulchan, hanerot yairu,
Kol pinot habayit yizrachu, yazhiru.
Shabbat shalom uvracha, shabbat sholom umnucha.
Boachem leshalom, malachei hashalom!
החמה מראש האילנות נסתלקה
בואו ונצא לקראת שבת המלכה
הנה היא יורדת הקדושה הברוכה
ועמה מלאכים צבא שלום ומנוחה
באי באי המלכה
באי באי הכלה
שלום עליכם, מלאכי השלום!
קיבלנו פני שבת ברננה ותפילה
הביתה נשובה, בלב מלא גילה
שם ערוך השולחן, הנרות יאירו
כל-פינות הבית יזרחו, יזהירו
שבת שלום וברכה
שבת שלום ומנוחה
בואכם לשלום, מלאכי השלום!
The sun on the tree-tops no longer is seen,
Come, gather to welcome the Sabbath, our Queen.
Behold her descending, the holy, the blest.
With angels-a cohort of peace and of rest.
Draw nigh, O Queen, and here abide
Draw nigh, draw nigh, O Sabbath bride.
Peace also to you, Ye angels of peace!
We've welcomed the Sabbath with song and with prayer;
And home we return, our heart's gladness to share.
The table is set and the candles are lit,
The tiniest corner for Sabbath made fit.
O day of blessing, day of rest!
Sweet day of peace be ever blest!
Bring ye also peace, Ye angels of peace!
Listen to Josh Warshawsky’s version “Hachamah (Bo’ee Kallah)” here
Listen to Aviva Chernick’s version “Bo’i Kallah” here
(19:17) Shabbat 119a - Describes the various ways the Talmudic rabbis would prepare themselves for Shabbat
(20:19) Kabbalists
(21:07) Shabbat 119b:3 - the “good angel” and “bad angel” who accompany those walking back from synagogue
(23:54) Halacha - הלכה - Jewish law. Literally translates to “a pathway”
(29:10) Bereshit 1:26 Rashi - speaks about g?d consulting with the angels ahead of creating humans to avoid them getting jealous.
*For more on the question of when the angels were created, see Bereshit Rabbah 3:
(29:10) Vayehi vayamin harabim hahem vayamat malach mitzrayim vaya'anchu b'nai yisrael min ha'avodah vayizaku vata'al shavatam el HaElohim min ha'avodah.
וַיְהִי֩ בַיָּמִ֨ים הָֽרַבִּ֜ים הָהֵ֗ם וַיָּ֙מׇת֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיֵּאָנְח֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִן־הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה וַיִּזְעָ֑קוּ וַתַּ֧עַל שַׁוְעָתָ֛ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים מִן־הָעֲבֹדָֽה׃
A long time after that, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites were groaning under the bondage and cried out; and their cry for help from the bondage rose up to g?d. (Exodus 2:23)
Vayishmah Elohim et nakatam vayizkor Elohim et brito et Avraham et Yitzchak v’et Ya’akov
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־נַאֲקָתָ֑ם וַיִּזְכֹּ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּרִית֔וֹ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽת־יַעֲקֹֽב׃
g?d heard their moaning, and g?d remembered the covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. (Exodus 2:24)
(29:45) Source of the story about angels who say Baruch Atah Shomeah Tefillah (coming soon)
(29:52) Listen to Episode 11: Pool of Blessings here
(30:18) Berachot 7a:4 - Rav Yishmael entering the Holy of Holies, and giving g?d a blessing that g?d’s mercy should outweigh
g?d’s anger
Barcheni - ברכני - Bless Me
(31:22) Genesis 18 - Angels telling Abraham about Sarah’s pregnancy
(31:34) Genesis 22:11 - Angel appearing during the binding of Isaac
(31:40) Genesis 32 - Jacob wrestles with an angel, and dreams up the angels going up and down a ladder
(32:50) Bereshit Rabbah 10:6
Amar Rabbi Simon ein lecha kol asav v’asav, she’ein lo mazal barakia shemaceh oto, v’omer lo g’dal
מַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן אֵין לְךָ כָּל עֵשֶׂב וְעֵשֶׂב, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מַזָּל בָּרָקִיעַ שֶׁמַּכֶּה אוֹתוֹ, וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ גְּדַל
Rabbi Simon said: There is not a single blade of grass that does not have a constellation in the firmament that strikes it and says to it: ‘Grow.’
(33:34) You can find Honey from the Rock: An Easy Introduction to Jewish Mysticism by Larry Kushner here
(37:34) Listen to Debbie Friedman’s Shalom Aleichem here (this is one of the only, and very possibly the last recording of Debbie Friedman singing her melody for Shalom Aleichem, originally posted by Rabbi Richard Levy z”l, from a chavurah hosted in someone’s Los Angeles home. Thank you to Rabbis Riqi Kosovske and David Seidenberg for help tracking it down!)
(37:52) Listen to the “Dveykus Shalom Aleichem”, performed by Abie Rotenberg, here
(38:13) Listen to “Tumbalalaika” by the Barry Sisters here
(45:44) Listen to Israel Goldfarb’s “Shalom Aleichem '', performed by Maayan Band, here.
And as a bonus, find another arrangement by Soul key choir here
(46:12) Watch a short clip of Rav Shmuel Brazil leading a group in Shalom Aleichem here
(47:27) Listen to Nava Tehila’s “Shalom Aleichem” here
(48:17) Listen to Rochelle Nelson’s “Shalom Aleichem” here
(49:19) Listen to “King of New York” from Newsies here