b'shalom

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Pronunciations

b'shalom (be-SHAH-lohm) listen

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Definitions

  • adv. "In peace" (used to sign off in written correspondence).

Example Sentences

  • End of an email: "B'shalom, Rebecca"

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • English

Etymology

  • בשלום Heb. lit. 'in peace,' calque of English phrase

      • Who Uses This

      • Organizations: People involved in a professional or volunteer capacity with Jewish nonprofit organizations

      Regions

      • North America
      • South Africa
      • Australia / New Zealand

      Dictionaries

      • None

      Alternative Spellings

      beshalom

Notes

  • More common among non-Orthodox religious Jews. Some people criticize this form for being incorrect Hebrew or referring to death and prefer "L'shalom." The Talmud (Brakhot 64a) notes that one should say "lech l'shalom" (to peace) and not "lech b'shalom" (in peace) based on Scriptual inferences from David and Jethro. At a funeral service, the phrase lech b'shalom (go in peace) is used. As one reader wrote in, "B'shalom is expressed only to someone who has died or whom you don't want to see again. The proper term for good wishes to a person who is alive is L'shalom."

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