The Shabbat Project: How to Sing Shalom Aleichem (Sephardic/Mizrahi)

This post includes a two-page step-by-step guide explaining how to recite Shalom Aleichem according to Sephardic (Mizrahi) tradition, including the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of the song. Whereas the general Ashkenzi tradition welcomes the accompanying angels into the home on Shabbat and then bids them farewell in four stanzas, the Sephardic tradition adds a fifth stanza, “B’shiv-t’chem L’shalom.” While this source translates the verse as “Come back in peace…” most sources translate it as “May your rest be for peace…” Although this source includes Psalm 91:11 and 121:8 after Shalom Aleichem, beginning with “Ki Malachav,” this is actually the tradition of Nusach Sefard (not to be confused with Sephardic!), which combines Ashkenazi and Kabbalistic customs. This resource is from The Shabbat Project, a movement which encourages Jews of all backgrounds and levels of observance to celebrate one Shabbat together each year.