“AMEN SONGS”: Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu

“Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu” (“Peace Will Come Upon Us”) by Mosh Ben Ari is a song that has become a powerful anthem of hope, unity, and resilience across Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Sung in both Hebrew and Arabic, its central refrain—“Od yavo shalom aleinu, ve’al kulam”—expresses a vision that peace is not just a dream, but a promise we must continue to work toward. The driving rhythm and repetitive call for shalom are more than poetic—they are spiritual. The song becomes a chant, a prayer, a commitment. It embodies the theme “Amen – Be a Blessing” by reminding us that to pursue peace, even in the face of conflict and pain, is one of the highest forms of blessing we can offer—to our people, to our neighbors, and to the world.

This message is especially fitting when paired with Parashat Acharei Mot–Kedoshim, two portions that emphasize holiness, justice, and the sacred obligations we have toward one another. In Kedoshim, we are commanded: “Love your neighbor as yourself”—perhaps the most well-known and demanding moral imperative in the Torah. The song’s multilingual lyrics, and its plea for peace for “all,” reflect that commandment with emotional urgency. To love our neighbor is to wish them peace; to act toward peace is to be holy. These parshiyot call on us not only to observe ritual laws but to create a just and compassionate society. In this way, “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu” is not simply a call for peace—it is a call for holiness through human connection, empathy, and shared hope.

In a world too often fractured by fear and division, “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu” dares to believe in a different future. It invites us to be part of that future—not passively waiting for peace to arrive, but actively choosing to be agents of peace in our communities and our relationships. As we read Acharei Mot–Kedoshim, we are reminded that holiness is not abstract. It is built from choices—how we speak, how we forgive, how we love, and how we strive to bless others through our vision of a better world. This song calls us to say amen not just with our lips, but with our lives, as we walk the path toward peace, together.