# Evenu Shalom Alehem??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenu-shalom-alehem/654322>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 30, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenu-shalom-alehem/654322 "2013-03-30T02:39:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenu-shalom-alehem/654322/1 "2013-03-30T02:39:13Z")

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I found [this song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmd5yAHOl_U)on Youtube apparently about Israel and sung by Venezuelians, and I’m wondering what it is about.

I guess I could have asked on Youtube, but I thought I would have better and quicker answers here.

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenu-shalom-alehem/654322/2 "2013-03-30T07:35:02Z")

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“Hevenu Shalom Aleichem” (no relation to the writer) is an Israeli folk ditty dating back to the 1940s. It means “we have brought peace upon you”, and as far as I know, those are the full extent of the lyrics.

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenu-shalom-alehem/654322/3 "2013-03-30T16:46:03Z")

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Thanks. Does it have any particular significance/symbolism/fame in Israel? Does it refer to something specific?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenu-shalom-alehem/654322/4 "2013-04-01T13:31:27Z")

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“Shalom Aleichem” means “Peace to You” and is a common greeting (and farewell)\* and has been for centuries. For millenia. It’s found in the book of Genesis 43:23, Joseph says “Peace to you” (“Shalom Lechem”) to his brothers.

The additional word “Hevenu” means “We bring,” so the song is “We bring peace to you.”

It’s a very old traditional folk-song, and there’s no further significance per se. However, it’s been used a lot in various ways. For example, the famous Yiddish writer Solomon Rabinowitz took on the pen name “Sholem Aleichem” (you know him as the author of the stories upon which _Fiddler on the Roof_ was based.)

- The response is “Aleichem Shalom” (“To you, Peace”). Interestingly, the Arabic greeting is very similar: “salaam alikem” with response “alikem salaam.”