#68: Shalom Aleichem

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. It is customary to greet the angels that visit a person’s home on Friday night by singing “Shalom Aleichem” (Siddur of R. Yaakov Emden; Sha’arei Teshuvah, siman 262). Some people stand when reciting Shalom Aleichem to honor the angels (Piskei Teshuvot, siman 271), while others sit. One may follow one’s family custom (see https://www.yeshiva.co/ask/4634).
  2. Ashkenazim sing four stanzas of the song (“Shalom Aleichem,” “Bo’achem L’shalom,” “Barchuni L’shalom,” and “Tzeitchem L’shalom,”), while many Sephardim add a fifth stanza (“B’shivtechem L’shalom”) (Ben Ish Chai, though see R. Benzion Mutzafi, Shivat Tzion, who disagrees).Many Ashkenazim sing each stanza three times to reinforce the themes of each stanza (Likutei Maharich, based on Menachot 66a; see Piskei Teshuvot, siman 271), though this is not required. Many Sephardim recite each stanza only once (see R. Benzion Mutzafi, Shivat Tzion; R. Yosef Zvi Rimon).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.