Behind the design
What does shalom mean? More than hello, more than peace
Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace, but it also means hello, goodbye, and wholeness. Here's the meaning behind the word, and why we put it on a cap.
By the MEGA Israel team · · 2 min read
IllustrationAsk most people what shalom means and they'll say "peace." That's right, and it's also only the beginning.
Hello, goodbye, and everything in between
In everyday Hebrew, shalom (שלום) is how you greet someone and how you say goodbye. You'll hear it on the phone, at the shuk, and at the end of every visit to a grandparent's apartment. It does the work of "hi" and "see you" in a single, warm word.
Peace as wholeness
The word comes from the Hebrew root sh-l-m, which carries the idea of being whole or complete. It's the same root as shalem, "whole." So shalom isn't only the absence of conflict. It's the sense that things are as they should be: a full table, people who love each other, nothing missing.
Where you'll hear it
- Shabbat shalom: the Friday night and Saturday greeting, wishing someone a peaceful Shabbat.
- Shalom aleichem: "peace be upon you," a traditional greeting, and the name of a song many families sing on Friday night.
- Shalom bayit: "peace in the home," the idea of a household that works, with patience and kindness.
- L'hitraot: not shalom, but its partner. It means "see you again," and it's the goodbye people use when they plan to come back.
Why we put it on a cap
We wanted the first thing we made to say something warm without saying too much. "Shalom" in tonal script is quiet. You notice it when you're close, the way you'd notice a friend's accent. It works at the office, at the ballpark and at the airport, and it starts conversations instead of arguments.
The Shalom Embroidered Cap is an unstructured cotton dad cap in stone, navy or olive, embroidered in small US batches. It's also part of the Cap + Tee Bundle.
Wear your shalom.
