“When you draw near to a city to wage war against it, you shall call out to it for peace.”

Just how important is peace? Peace is the vessel for blessing. To which Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai states, “… He [G-d] is peace, His Name is peace and everything is bound in peace. The Sifra emphasizes: “Peace is the seal of all blessings because, without peace, prosperity, health, food and drink are WORTHLESS.” In addition, “The whole purpose of the Torah is peace.” Yet, Shlomo HaMelech goes to the extreme, “A slice of dry bread in a home with peace is better than a wealthy house filled with strife.”

The name shin stands for Sholom, which denotes peace and perfection. As the essence of all harmony and perfection, Hashem is called the oseh sholom, maker of peace. G-d is descriptive Names do not imply only descriptions of His Attributes but serve as examples for a man to emulate. For a man to thrive spiritually, he must copy the attributes of his Maker. This is especially the case with regard to sholom since it is essential for man’s survival that he harmonizes the diverse elements of the worlds. Its three heads symbolize two opponents standing on the extreme sides of the controversy and the Divine mediator in the middle.

The Sages teach that one of the three aims that Eliyahu HaNavi will achieve before Mashiach comes is that he will make peace in the world. A feat which no world leader has been able to accomplish!

If Jews are worshipping idols, but they live in peace, then in Heaven, the Accuser is not able to indict them. One may deviate from the truth in order to preserve peace. If a person keeps to himself, he is not pursuing peace. Rather, he should go out and actively look for ways to make peace wherever he can. A person who brings peace into his house is considered by G-d as if he brought peace to the entire Jewish people. When the nation [Israel] is united and there is peace among them, the Satan has absolutely no domain whatsoever over them.

Dedicated in memory of Rivka bas Rav Eliyahu, Shlomo Avraham Moshe ben Yechezkeil Yosef, Rochel bas Menachem Mendel Boruch, Eliyahu ben Mordechai, Mashah Tzivyah bas R’ Shlomo Zalman, Altah Soshah Devorah bas Aryeh Leibush, Chaim ben Shmuel Efraim Zalman, Tuvyah Shlomo ben Naftali Tzvi HaKohein, Leah bas Leib Yehudah, Esther Perel bas R’ Shlomo, Miriam bas Zelig Shaul, Menachem ben Shimon, Menachem ben Zev, Sarah bas HaRav Yisroel, Zushe Yosef ben Shmuel Tzvi, Yosef ben Moshe HaLevi and all the other departed souls of our nation.

For the complete recovery of Chayah Malka bas Bas-Sheva and among the other sick ones of our nation.

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