In last week’s parsha, Shmot, the first section of Exodus, there is a phrase that stuck out. Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law says to Moses, “Lech l’shalom. Go in peace.”
This is a remarkable phrase for several reasons. A trip to Egypt would not necessarily be easy. Jethro knew that Moses might not return. And yet, he gave Moses his blessing. “Go in peace.”
Last week I attending a mincha-havdalah service led by a friend of mine, Rabbi Marc Rudolph. He reminded me that I had once set off a discussion at the Academy about this very phrase. A long time ago, Rabbi Everett Gendler taught me that one should sign correspondence with L’shalom, not B’shalom as many people do. When the head of the Academy, Rabbi Jeff Hoffman signed something “B’Shalom” I questioned it. No one seemed to know. I went back to Rabbi Gendler and asked if he remembered our previous discussion and what the difference between the phrases is. He answered that “B’shalom” is what you say when someone has died, like “rest in peace.” The nuanced difference here is that “L’shalom” is “Towards peace” or “To peace”. It expresses the hope that we will eventually find peace. I liked that difference and prepared to discuss it with my congregation Friday night. Then our president sent out an email signed “B’shalom” and I wondered how I was going to talk about this topic. I knew that in Shalom Aleichem we sing, “Bo’achem l’shalom” then, “Barchuni l’shalom”, and finally “Tzeitchem l’shalom.” Come in peace, bless us with peace, exit in peace. In Ufros Aleinu we say “Hashkivenu l’shalom.” Over and over again this is how the liturgy uses the phrase.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to weave this together. Then I led the davenning. The answer was right there. In Psalm 29 the last line is “Adonai will bless His people with peace.” “Adonai y’varech et amo vashalom.” That last word is really “b’shalom”. This entire phrase is repeated in the Torah service on Shabbat morning. And then in Lecha Dodi, we welcome the Shabbat bride and we sing, Boi v’shalom” Come in peace. It is not either/or. It is both/and. God will bless us WITH peace. Same phrase. Both phrases are liturgical and both phrases are correct. Sign your letters and emails either way. It is not wrong. I will probably still sign mine “L’shalom” because I still like the idea of working towards peace. I know I am not there yet personally. In the meantime, may we be blessed with peace. Speedily and in our day. B’shalom, L’shalom, Shalom. Amen.