By Laura Seymour

Dear Families,
Two very simple songs with a very important message — Peace! The songs are not about what peace is but express the hope that peace will be ours. How do we create a time when the world will be at peace? What can we do to make the world a more peaceful place? Is there something we can do to make the appointed time NOW?
The music for “Salaam” comes from Moshe Ben-Ari of the Group Sheva and “Ki Va Moed” is music from Shlomo Carlebach. Rick Recht arranged both in very rhythmic songs.

‘Salaam’

Od yavo shalom aleinu (2)
Od yavo shalom aleinu v’al kulam. (2)
Salaam, aleinu v’al kol haolam salaam. (2)
Peace will yet come to us and to everyone.
Peace to us and to all the world.

‘Ki Va Moed’

Ki va moed. (4) Ya lai lai lai lai…
The appointed time (of peace) has come.
The energy we feel when we sing this song makes us believe that we can bring a peaceful time. It is up to each of us. Another special feeling that singing gives us is the feeling of belonging to community. Can we bring peace alone? We can do our part but we need each other. We need to be part of community to work together.
For many of us former campers, there is one other song of peace that we remember:

‘Lo Yisa Goy’

Lo yi-sa goy el goy he rev, Lo yil-m’du od mil-ha ma.
And every man ‘neath his vine and fig tree shall live in peace and unafraid
And into plowshares beat their swords and nation shall learn war no more.
Gonna lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside (4)
I ain’t gonna study war no more.
Shalom, from the Shabbat Lady.
Laura Seymour is director of camping services at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center.