Shalom Rav

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

שָׁלוֹם רָב עַל יִשְׂראֵל עַמְּֿךָ תָּשִׂים לְעוֹלָם

כִּי אַתָּה הוּא מֶֽלֶךְ אָדוֹן לְכָל הַשָּׁלוֹם׃

וְטוֹב בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמְּֿךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל

בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה בִּשְּׁלוֹמֶֽךָ׃

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳, הַמְֿבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּשָּׁלוֹם:

Transliterated Text of Shalom Rav

Shalom rav al yisrael amkha tasim le-olam

Ki atta hu melekh adon le-khol ha-shalom

Ve-tov be-eynekha le-varekh et am-kha yisrael

Be-khol et u-ve-khol sha’a bi-shlomekha

Barukh atta adonai

Ha-mevarekh et 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

1. Musical Settings: Shalom Rav by Jim Ball, Reform Judaism magazine
2. ISBN 978-0807404065