Askmoses-A Jews Resource
What does Kabbalah say about the sense of smell?
Browse our archives

The Scholar is ready to answer your question. Click the button below to chat now.

Scholar Online:

Type in your question here:

Why do we say Shalom Aleichem three times during kiddush levanah?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

  

Library » Miscellaneous | Subscribe | What is RSS?

PRINT EMAIL COMMENT

There are a number of explanations given. Here are two:

1. During the prayer of sanctifying the new moon we ask G-d to protect us from our enemies and that fear should overwhelm them. After saying this, we turn to three people around us and say “Shalom Aleichem”—as if to say, “I didn’t mean you when I was talking about enemies. You should have only peace.” 1

2. According to the Midrash, the sun and moon were originally the same size. The moon (i.e., its spiritual antecedent) then complained to G-d saying that “two kings cannot share one crown”—one of us should be greater than the other. G-d responded by saying that the moon should diminish itself. Which it did.

Now although the moon intended to have the sun diminished, there is peace between them—the sun does not take revenge. Rather, it bestows light upon the moon despite the moon’s initial hostility. So when we witness the birth of the new moon—that there is peace between it and the sun and the latter provides it with light—we are inspired to make peace with our neighbors even if they have done us wrong. We say peace three times to grant it permanence (chazakah). 2


[Ed. note: Also read "Why are many things in Judaism done three times?"]

Footnotes

  • 1. Etz Yosef.
  • 2. Lechem Yehudah, cited in Anaf Yosef.

ADD A COMMENT

Please email me when new comments are posted (you must be  logged in).
Midrash
(Pl. Midrashim). Non-legal material of anecdotal or allegorical nature, designed either to clarify historical material, or to teach a moral point. The Midrashim were compiled by the sages who authored the Mishna and Talmud (200 BCE-500 CE).
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.