Aramaic word of the Day:

ܫܠܡܐ – Shlama – Peace

As an Israeli guide rooted in the hills and the valleys of Jerusalem, I’ve watched countless pilgrims pause at the Wailing Wall, whispering prayers for peace. But I often wonder do we really understand what we're asking for?

You see, in Aramaic, the word ܫܠܡܐ (Shlama) doesn't merely mean the absence of war. It means wholeness, restoration, and harmony. It’s the feeling of being gathered not scattered. Of being mended not just mended emotionally, but relationally, spiritually, even economically even during turmoil. It is the inner peace let me explain more.

In the Semitic mindset, peace is not passive. It’s a verb. A process. Something you do, not something you wait for. In Hebrew, too, the sister word שָׁלוֹם (Shalom) comes from the root שלם (sh-l-m) which means “to make whole, to repay, to fulfill.” So to "shalom" someone is to restore what was broken. This is also the meanining of the word Jerusalem in Aramaic. “Or-Shlem.”

Yeshua didn’t greet his disciples with “What’s up, guys?” He came through locked doors and breathed, “Shlama” – Peace be upon you. Not because everything was calm, but because they were shattered. And He offered the antidote to fragmentation: Himself.

So next time you pray for peace whether for Israel, your family, or your own anxious mind don’t imagine a serene lake without waves. Picture instead a shepherd who goes after the lost sheep. A potter who restores the cracked vessel. A father who runs to embrace his wayward son, picture Jerusalem.

My hope is that you will live peace, not just long for it. Make amends. Speak gently. Bind up broken relationships. That’s when peace, true Shlama, will settle in not as a fleeting moment, but as a lasting rhythm in your soul.

And may the Shlama of our Lord guard your heart today.