Shalom Aleichem Liturgy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n By William J Kuik, Congregational Leader of ECBY<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Shalom Aleichem is a hymn sung or chanted on Friday nights after coming home from the Erev Shabbat synagogue service. \u00a0It is sung before Kiddush, just before the meal. It originated in the 17th<\/span><\/sup> century with its first occurrence in the siddur from Prague.\u00a0 The song is based on a passage in the Babylonian Talmud (Sabbath 119b.)\u00a0 The homiletic teaches that two angels accompany people on their way back home from synagogue on Friday night (Erev Shabbat), a good angel and an evil angel.\u00a0 If the house has been cleaned, prepared for the Shabbat, and a peaceful atmosphere in the home then the good angel says, So may it be next week, the bad angel is forced to say Amen.\u00a0 If the house has not been cleaned, prepared for the Sabbath, and if there is no peace in the house, then the bad angel says, So may it be next week, the good angel is forced to say Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>As Messianic Believers in Yeshua we regard Biblical Judaism with the highest esteem possible.\u00a0 Our calling and goal is to follow a truly \u201cbiblical lifestyle,\u201d modeled by Yeshua, seen through the eyes of the Jewish community of believers in the first and second century (Nazarenes\u2019.)\u00a0 Yochanan (John) 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And again in Yochanan 14:19\u201421 \u2026because I live, you will live also.\u00a0 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.\u00a0 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who lives Me;\u2026.\u00a0 In our zeal to follow Yeshua and to outreach the Jewish community (Romans 1:16 \u2026to the Jew first and also to the Greek) Messianic Synagogues sometimes adopt Rabbinic traditions.\u00a0 This is done without thinking about the origin or thinking about the implications.\u00a0 Just because something is done today in the Jewish Orthodox Synagogue or the Jewish community it does not mean it is Biblical.\u00a0 This is true whether we are looking in the mirror or looking at the traditions of the Protestant or Catholic Church.\u00a0 Believers (Christians) are called to the highest standard.\u00a0 We are called to follow God through the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holly Spirit) with the knowledge and example Yeshua provided.\u00a0 His discernment has been provided for us through the Brit Chadashah (New Testament.)\u00a0 NOT all liturgy is appropriate for a Messianic believer to recite. \u00a0The Kabbalistic mysticism associated with Shalom Aleichem is inappropriate.\u00a0 Some Orthodox Rabbi\u2019s agree, Rabbi Jacob Emden, criticized the use of the hymn for making supplications to angels and the grammar for speaking of \u201cangels of the Most High,\u201d instead of exulting the \u201cKing who rules over kings.\u201d\u00a0 We agree with this assessment. \u00a0No scripture commends us for calling out to angels.\u00a0 The idea that a good and an evil angel follow you home from the synagogue is not supported by any scripture.\u00a0 Addressing these angels in this context is also not supported by scripture.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>We have included Shalom Aleichem<\/i> previously in the liturgical portion of our service; however, we have re-evaluated its use.\u00a0 As a result of that re-evaluation, we have removed it. Furthermore, we do not recommend that Messianic synagogues include any liturgy simply because \u201cit\u2019s the traditional thing to do.\u201d We all need to assess the ways in which we choose to express our worship of Adonai, as well as our reasons for doing it. That does not mean that all liturgies are bad. Much of the traditional liturgy highly praises our Creator, and serves to refocus our attention upon His glory rather than the troubles from our busy week that so easily distracts us. In 1 Cor. 10:23 we are reminded that, Everything is permitted”\u2014but not everything is helpful. Everything is permitted\u2014but not everything builds up<\/i> (TLV). We would do well to remember these things as we plan our worship services, and not just settle into a routine because \u201cthis is how it has always been done.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>What follows is the text to Shalom Aleichem:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>This hymn has almost a hauntingly hypnotic appeal when sung, never-the-less in light of the\u00a0above text we have chosen not to continue it’s tradition.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shalom Aleichem Liturgy By William J Kuik, Congregational Leader of ECBY \u00a0Shalom Aleichem is a hymn sung or chanted on Friday nights after coming home from the Erev Shabbat synagogue service. \u00a0It is sung before Kiddush, just before the meal. It originated in the 17th century with its first occurrence in the siddur from Prague.\u00a0 … Continue reading Shalom Aleichem Liturgy<\/span> Shalom Alaychem malachay hasharet, malachay elyon,\r\nPeace be unto you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High,\r\n\r\nMimelech malchay hahm\u2019lacheem, hakodosh baruch hu.\r\nthe King of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He.\r\n\r\nBo-achem l\u2019shalom, malachay hashalom, malachay elyon,\r\nEnter in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,\r\n\r\nBaruchnee l\u2019shalom, malachay hashalom, malachay elyon,\r\nBless me with peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,\r\n\r\nMimelech malchay hahm\u2019lacheem, hakodosh baruch hu.\r\nthe King of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He.\r\n\r\nTsaetchem l\u2019shalom, malachay hashalom, malachay elyon,\r\nDepart in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,\r\n\r\nMimelech malchay hahm\u2019lacheem, hakodosh baruch hu.\r\nthe King of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/pre>\n