The Diwan Project: Meditative Shalom Aleichem

This 8 minute long, low quality video features The Divan Project performing a long meditative song-prayer inspired by Shalom Aleichem. Beginning from 4:26, the first line of Shalom Aleichem is repeated throughout the song, following the tradition of referring to the “malachei hashalom” (the angels of peace), as opposed to the “malachei hasharet” (the ministering angels), in the first stanza. The Diwan Project, who create a blend of traditional, contemporary Israeli, and ethnic/world music, aim to lead their audience in a journey of sacred song and prayer. While the melodies and lyrics come from the collective memory of the Jewish Diaspora, the Diwan Project consider themselves a revival of the sacred, ancient tradition of the Levites.