There has been an almost endless discussion of peace since the inception of the State Of Israel. It goes without saying that this region has seen a disproportionate amount of bloodshed and tension. In order to deal with this increasing difficult deadlock, both participants and observers in this conflict have dubbed the efforts to come to a “final agreement” the Peace Movement. Its Israeli counterpart is called שלום עכשיו (Shalom Achshav). Is Peace Now really Shalom Achshav?
According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of peace is:
Pronunciation:
\ˈpēs\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English pees, from Anglo-French pes, pees, from Latin pac-, pax; akin to Latin pacisci to agree — more at pact
Date:
12th century1: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a: freedom from civil disturbance b: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom a breach of the peace
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3: harmony in personal relations
4: a state or period of mutual concord between governments b: a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
5: used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell
— at peace
: in a state of concord or tranquillity
So, the Western definition of peace is essentially quietness and tranquility, coming from the Latin word pax. The book Why The Jews, by Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin points out that in the Roman Empire, pax Romana meant establishing such tranquility by violently crushing opposition to it’s rule.
What is Shalom then? Shalom is, first and foremost, one of the names of the Almighty. In fact, according to Jewish law, the word Shalom cannot be spoken in a bathroom, just as prayers cannot. The root of the word Shalom שלום is shalem שלמ or completeness-not tranquility. King Solomon’s name is from this root-the Kingdom Of Israel was at its greatest size (complete), hence-Shlomo שלמה. During Shlomo’s reign, there were no wars on earth-the only time in human history*! Can the folks at Nobel match that? The mistranslation of Peace Now into Hebrew (or vice verse) shows the difference between the western concept of “peace” and the actual “Biblical” meaning that comes from Judaism. The division of the Land Of Israel and it’s occupation by foreign peoples only delays true harmony in the world-שלום.
*This is deduced from what we learn about Shlomo HaMelech in Melachim Aleph chapter 5 verse 6 where we learn that he had 40,000 stables of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen. The Talmud Yerushalmi, Sanhedrin indicates that all of these (the horses and horsemen) were “batlanim”-unemployed or idle, not needed for an army because there were no wars in his days (Penei Moshe). Life in his reign was entirely serene as Melachim Aleph 5:5 tells us.
-from Kings 1, Chapter 5:
5. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
6. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
ספר מלכים א פרק ה
(ה) וישב יהודה וישראל לבטח איש תחת גפנו ותחת תאנתו מדן ועד באר שבע כל ימי שלמה
(ו) ויהי לשלמה ארבעים אלף ארות סוסים למרכבו ושנים עשר אלף פרשיםתלמוד ירושלמי מסכת סנהדרין פרק ב דף כ טור ג /ה”ו
ויהי לשלמה ארבעים אלף אוריות סוסים למרכב ושנים עשר אלף פרשים בטלנים
It was the first time the israelites did not have fight or was throughout the world a state of serenety? For this you don’t have any proof for it. so it means shit. the israelites of the stoneage didn’t fight with their neighbors. ansd evev masruhis and ashkis lived happily together.
seriously, don’t you think you are losing grip on reality. you are taking it much too literally what is written and what this said and what that said. where is your own opinion. So the rambam said something a couple of centuries ago. Is it still valid? Has nothing changed the last 200 years that would warrent a new way of thinking how to solve all our problems. But no, you says it is written so in the book, it has to be that way. Only when the land of Israel is whole again peace will be. But until then we have to fight and to fight and to fight.
But I ask taht if we have to fight for Israel to be whole, than every every fallen jew is nothing but a martyr. Perhaps we should also promise him some virgins?
[...] don’t know about “Palestine,” but Israel needs a candidate who has a vision of “Shalom” and not “peace!” I support two states, one Israel and one Palestine. As far as I am concerned, I can recognize [...]