There is a Midrash brought down in the Otzer HaMidrashim called the Midrash Gadol, that lists things that are great. One of them is Gadol HaShalom/Peace is great.
There are many reasons listed, which we will share over the next few days.
The first is that we see Peace is great, because first thing that God created in the world was about peace. This was light.
By creating light, God created peace. Light brings peace. When there is darkness, people trip, they fall and they get into fights. That is why, on Shabbat, we light candles- because light brings Shalom, and Shabbat is the time of Shalom.
So therefore, in order to have Shalom Bayit, Peace in the home, we light candles.
It’s fascinating that the first thing that God created was a peace item.
If you have to choose between buying Shabbat candles or wine for Kiddush, you have to buy the candles because Shalom Bayit overrides kiddush. Peace trumps all.
Furthermore, since Shalom bay it is so important, the Midrash continues and says that so Great is Peace that God allows a His name, that’s written in holiness, to be erased in waters, to create peace between husband and wife. When a man is suspicious that maybe his wife did something wrong, a special chapter from the Torah is written on a scroll and erased. This has magical, miraculous powers to determine if the lady is innocent or not. And this magical, mystical truth serum is created by erasing God’s name. Why is it done this way? Because peace is so great, God says to erase His name for it.
We can see this in people as well. There is a story about Rebbe Meir who used to give a class on Friday nights. One night, a woman attended his class and came home late. Her husband was upset with her and refused to let her enter the house unless she spit in the face of the rabbi who gave the speech. A neighbor overheard the husband screaming and told the rabbi what he said. The rabbi then told the woman that he had something in his eye, and he needed someone to spit in it in order to clear it up. His students wondered what he was doing. Would he really go to such an extent, to embarrass himself?
And he said that if God could have his name erased for Shalom, he could take a little bit of insult for Shalom.
Have a wonderful day!
Gadol Hashalom
Peace is great!