‘May the presence of God be with you and give you peace’

Patrick Comerford

I was in Dublin yesterday (6 August 2020), speaking as President of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in Merrion Square as at the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

It was very difficult not to think at the same time of the conflagration that has engulfed Beirut this week, leaving many people living and dying under another mushroom cloud, but also raising the fears of many about the consequences for peace and stability in the Middle East.

On this Friday evening, as I pray for peace, I am conscious of home the values of peace are central to the traditional Sabbath evening prayers in Jewish homes.

On approaching the table, it is traditional to welcome the Sabbath angels with this song, whose name in fact means ‘welcome’:

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת‏‏ מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא

Shalom aleichem mal’achei hashareit mal’achei elyon mimelech malchei ham’lachim, ha-kadosh baruch hu
Bo’achem l’shalom mal’achei hashalom mal’achei elyon mimelech malchei ham’lachim, ha-kadosh baruch hu
Barechuni l’shalom mal’achei hashalom mal’achei elyon mimelech malchei ham’lachim, ha-kadosh baruch hu
Tzeitchem l’shalom mal’achei hashalom mal’achei elyon mimelech malchei ham’lachim, ha-kadosh baruch hu

Peace be with you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High, messengers of the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.
Come in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, messengers of the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.
Bless me with peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, messengers of the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.
Go in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, messengers of the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.

Later, the blessing over children says:

May God Bless you and guard you.
May the light of God shine upon you,
and may God be gracious to you.
May the presence of God be with
you and give you peace.

May the presence of God be with you and give you peace. Shabbat Shalom.