We continue with the Midrash’s quotes about how great Shalom is.
“Great is peace because God’s name is peace,” as it says in Shoftim 6,24
ויקרא לו ה׳ שלום
And he called to Hashem, “Shalom”
That is why, as the Ben Ish Chai and others bring down, you can’t say Shalom in a bathroom or a bath house, because you cannot say Hashem’s name in an unclean place. That is why people do not say Shabbat Shalom, or Shalom in a place that is unclean. Shalom is God’s name. Why is this so?
I recently saw a very big Hiddush.
What is the root of the word Shalom? Shalom means peace, but in Hebrew etymology, most words have a three letter root. The root of shalom is shalem/ complete. This is brought down by the Magen Avot, the Rashbatz, Pirkei Avot ( perek 1 Mishna 18)
It is called Shalom because it’s complete.
In Shir HaShirim we say, Shir HaShirim LShlomo, which also refers to God- the One that has peace. Peace is there when there is perfection. The only true, perfect being is God. Therefore, God’s name is Shalom.
Shalom is something holy, and that is why we aspire to emulate God. God is kind, we are kind. God is perfect, so we have to get as close to perfect as we can, and that comes through Shalom.
The Midrash continues:
Shalom is Great: It weighs in corresponding to all the Mitzvot of the Torah, positive and negative. The source is, Sur Mera, stay away from evil (those are the negative commandments, V’Aseh Tov Do all the positives,
But it’s still not enough.. so on the other side we add, Bakesh Shalom, search and desire peace and chase after it. These are powerful words.
Another reason for Gadol HaShalom: When you someone how they are doing, you don’t ask him how much money he has or about his health, or about anything else except
Ma Shlomcha- literally, What’s your peace?
The pasuk in Melachim Bet 4,26- says הֲשָׁלוֹם לָךְ Is there peace to you?
Similarly, when Yaakov inquired of Lavan, he asked Hashalom Lo? Is there peace to him?
This is our source for this concept of how great peace is.. Peace is what decides how you’re doing.
In Hebrew we don’t say How are you doing? In Hebrew, we say Ma Shlomcha How’s your peace ?
Because that decides everything.
If you have peace, you have everything.
Have a wonderful day.