In the final chapter of Isaiah, the prophet assures the Jewish people that Hashem will extend shalom (שלום) upon them, and that all the nations will come forth with blessings like a torrent or river sweeping effortlessly along. The Hebrew word shalom is usually understood to mean peace, but it is translated here as prosperity. Jewish tradition teaches that peace is like a vessel that holds all of the other precious blessings in our lives. The blessing of peace is the ultimate blessing, since all the other blessings of the world are contained within it. To learn more about the Torah and Biblical Hebrew, visit the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies.
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