Source
May peace be upon you, ministering angels, angels from above
of the King of Kings, the Holy One Blessed Be He
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Come in peace, ministering angels, angels from above
of the King of Kings, the Holy One Blessed Be He
בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Bless me with peace, ministering angels, angels from above
of the King of Kings, the Holy One Blessed Be He
בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Go in peace, ministering angels, angels from above
of the King of Kings, the Holy One Blessed Be He
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Foundations for Planning
Essential Questions
- How can my actions make time sacred?
- Why/how might Jewish practices be meaningful for me even if I don’t define myself as “religious”?
Content Questions Related to the Essential Questions
- How do the Shabbat ceremonies and prayers influence the feeling of Shabbat and reflect its unique nature?
- What values can we learn from the Shabbat ceremonies and prayers?
- How can the explicit expression of ideas, values and hopes influence us?
Background for Teacher
The piyyut (religious song) “Shalom Aleichem” is sung on Friday evenings before kiddush, after returning from Shabbat services in the synagogue. We do not know the name of the person who composed this song, but it is clearly rooted in the Jewish mystical tradition....
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The piyyut (religious song) “Shalom Aleichem” is sung on Friday evenings before kiddush, after returning from Shabbat services in the synagogue. We do not know the name of the person who composed this song, but it is clearly rooted in the Jewish mystical tradition. There is some disagreement regarding when and where this piyyut was composed. Some associate it with the mystics who lived in Safed in the 16th century, while others attribute it to Jewish mystics who lived in North Africa during the 17th century.
In this piyyut, we welcome the angels, known as angels of peace or ministering angels, who enter our homes on Friday night. The composer of this piyyut drew from two sources: 1) the custom mentioned in many ancient prayer books of turning to those around us at the end of services and blessing them with the words שלום עליכם (shalom aleichem, may peace be upon you) and 2) the talmudic story that, on Friday night, two angels accompany worshippers home from the synagogue (see the Further Study section).
This piyyut (prayer song) has been accepted by Jewish communities throughout the world and has been set to many different tunes. In some Middle Eastern communities, an extra verse has been added before the final verse:
“בְּשִׁבְתְּכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם…”.
“May you return in peace, angels of peace…”
This piyyut uses the image of angels who accompany a family on Shabbat and envelope the family with peace to reflect the special atmosphere of Shabbat — in traditional language, the holiness of Shabbat.
The Talmudic story on which this piyyut is based brings up another idea: A person needs to act to create the special Shabbat atmosphere that brings a sense of peace and togetherness to the home; that atmosphere won’t just appear on its own. The angels witness our efforts and give their stamp of approval to those efforts, but the responsibility is on our shoulders.
Optional Hooks 
In-Depth Discussion 
Suggested Activities 
Further Study - Listen to a recording of the piyyut. Here are some options: a Moroccan tune, Israel Goldfarb’s tune, a traditional Ashkenazi tune and Shmuel Brazil’s tune.
- For older students: Have the students search the internet for different tunes and performances of the piyyut from Jewish communities around the world. Ask them to choose a tune that was new to them that they particularly like, and to explain their choice.
Click here to view our consolidated list of suggested interactive pedagogies for classroom discussion.
- What is the central word in the piyyut that is repeated in each verse? Why do you think the author of this piyyut chose that particular word?
- The song tells about how angels visit our homes on Shabbat. What do these angels bring with them? Why do you think they arrive specifically on Shabbat? Why is this important?
- For older students: Many families sing this piyyut together at the start of the Friday night meal. How might extending an invitation to “the angels of peace” affect the whole family?
- How can you bring peace to your home on Shabbat? (Think about very specific examples.)
- What other angels would you like to invite to visit your home on Shabbat?
- The song hints at how we should treat guests. What can this song teach us about welcoming guests into our homes?
- For younger students: In the classroom, act out the appropriate way to welcome the angels who arrive on Friday night. Plan together with the students: What is important for them to see? (Order and cleanliness, a set table, etc.) Straighten up the classroom and set a table with a decorative centerpiece. Ahead of time, you can ask the students to bring in items such as a tablecloth, candlesticks, flowers, napkins or anything else that they think would add to the special Shabbat atmosphere. Once the table has been set, listen to the song (whoever knows the song can sing along) and silently act out coming into the home together with the angels, standing around the table and singing together, and then saying good-bye to the angels. In conclusion, discuss with the students how straightening up, setting the table and singing together can actually bring “the angels of peace” into the home.
- For older students: What does it mean to bless a family with peace? Write a short letter (to the angels of peace or to whom it may concern) in which you describe the aspects of peace that you would like to stay with your family during the coming week. The students can pair up with each other to exchange their letters. Ask the whole class: What is the advantage of repeating set blessings and requests for peace each week through a set song, as opposed to writing a new letter — like the ones you just wrote — each week?
- With older students, you can study the story on which the piyyut is based:
Two ministering angels accompany a person home from the synagogue on Friday night, a good angel and a bad angel. When they come to the home and see a lit candle, a set table and a bed that is made, the good angel says, “May it be God’s will that there be another Shabbat like this one.” And the bad angel is forced to say, “Amen.” And if that is not the case, the bad angel says, “May it be God’s will that there be another Shabbat like this one.” And the good angel is forced to say, “Amen.”
(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat, page 119b)
After reading the story, ask the following questions:
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- According to this story, how should we welcome our guests?
- What can this story teach us about the importance of planning ahead?
- This story hints at the idea that our actions do not stand on their own. A positive action often leads to another positive action, and the opposite is also true. Do you agree with this idea? Give examples from your own lives.
- We recommend linking this learning with learning about other ceremonies associated with welcoming Shabbat: candle-lighting and Kiddush.
- You can study another Friday night piyyut, “Lecha Dodi”, which is part of the Friday-night prayer service.
