Shalom Rav

Jewish and Israeli music
Religious
Contemporary Piyyut Zemirot Nigun Pizmonim Baqashot
Secular
Klezmer Sephardic Mizrahi Mainstream and jazz Classical Jewish art music
Israel
Hatikvah Jerusalem of Gold
Piyyutim
Adon Olam Geshem Lekhah Dodi Ma'oz Tzur Yedid Nefesh Yigdal
Dance
Israeli folk dancing Ballet Horah Yemenite dancing
Music for Holidays
Shabbat Hanukkah Blessings Oh Chanukah Dreidel song Al Hanisim Mi Y'malel Ner Li Passover (Haggadah) Ma Nishtana Dayenu Adir Hu Chad Gadya Echad Mi Yodea L'Shana Haba'ah Lag BaOmer Bar Yochai

Shalom Rav (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם רָב‎; "Abundant Peace") is a blessing that is recited at the end of the evening Amidah in the Ashkenazic tradition. There is a different version of this prayer, Sim Shalom (שִׁים שָׂלוֹם), for the morning Amidah. In the Sefardic, Chasidic-Sefardic, and Nusach Ari rites, Sim Shalom is said at all prayer services.

Versions in Song

In the denominations of Judaism where many prayers are sung rather than chanted, the most popular melody for Shalom Rav is the one composed by Jeff Klepper and Dan Freelander in 1974.^[1] It is a regular part of Shabbat services in Reform congregations around the world.

In many Jewish congregations, the cantor and congregation will sing the version of Shalom Rav by Ben Steinberg. The sheet music can be found in the Reform movement's "Shaarei Shira" Gates of Song book, at least in the 1987 edition.^[2]

Hebrew Text of Shalom Rav

Transliterated Text of Shalom Rav

Shalom rav al yisrael amcha tasim le-olam

Ki atta hu melech adon le-chol ha-shalom

Ve-tov be-eynecha le-varech es am-kha yisrael

Be-chol es u-ve-chol sha’a bi-shlomecha

Baruch atta [Hashem]

Ha-mevarech es amo yisrael ba-shalom

English Translation of Shalom Rav

Grant abundant peace over Israel, Your people, forever.

For You are the sovereign source of all peace.

So may it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel

in every season and in every hour with Your peace.

Blessed are You, Adonai,

Who blesses His people Israel with peace.

English Transliteration Translation

• Shalom = Peace
• Rav = (that is) Abundant
• al Yisrael = over Israel
• Amcha - Your People
• Tasim = Place
• L'Olam = Forever
• Ki = Because
• Atah = You
• Hu = Him
• Melech = (are) King
• Adon = Master
• L'chol = of All
• Ha-Shalom = (the) Peace
• V'tov = And (it is) good
• be-eynekha = In Your eyes
• L'voraych = to bless
• Et Amcha = Your people
• Yisrael = Israel
• B'chol = In all/every
• et = season
• u'vchol = and in all/every
• Sha'a = hour/time
• Bishlomecha = in/with your peace
• Baruch = Blessed
• Atah = (are) You
• Hashem = God (Note 1)
• Ha'm'vo'raych = the One who blesses
• et amo = His people
• Yisrael = (of) Israel
• Ba-Shalom = with Peace

Note: It is considered blasphemous to utter God's four-letter name. When God's name appears in prayer it is pronounced "Adonai", which literally translates as "Lord". Some people find the word "Adonai" uncomfortable to utter outside of devotional prayer, and substitute "Hashem" (literally "the name") for "Adonai" when not actually praying. The transliteration, above, contains the word "Adonai", but the translation of the transliteration goes the extra step to avoid blasphemy by using the word "Hashem" in place of the word "Adonai".

References

Per Rosenberg, Rabbi Arnold. JEWISH LITURGY AS A SPIRITUAL SYSTEM, (Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1997), page 99 The "Shalom Rav" prayer originated in 11th century Germany.

Rosenberg's source = Elbogen, Ismar. Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History, Translated by Raymond P. Scheindlin, (New York: The Jewish Publication Society, 1993), p. 53