Oseh Shalom is probably Judaism’s most well-known prayer for peace. “May the One who makes peace up above make peace among us, among Israel, and among all humanity.”
One reading of the prayer might suggest that Oseh Shalom is saying that true peace can only come from God. While there may be some deep spiritual truth behind this idea (i.e. “it’s all God anyway” or “there must be a qualitative distinction between God peace and human peace”) it does raise the question of whether we should put all our faith in God when it comes to the making of peace.
When I sing Oseh Shalom I find myself contemplating the idea that the human need, capacity, and aspiration toward peace represents our reaching toward God rather than God reaching toward us. I think that the peacemaker that exists in every human heart is infused with a divine spark. I think that part of our being created in the image of God is our deep knowing that we are here to create a covenant of peace among all peoples.
HG&P’s musical setting of Oseh Shalom has a decidedly Americana feel to it. It is co-written by Rabbi Micah Lapidus and Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus and appears on The Davis Academy’s 3rd album of original Jewish music: Menschology. You can listen on CD Baby, Soundcloud or wherever you stream music. If you want sheet music, reach out to me here.