What is the Jewish prayer for peace?

The Jewish Prayer for Peace

The Jewish tradition contains several prayers for peace, but the most prominent is Sim Shalom ("Grant Peace"), recited as part of the Amidah (the central standing prayer) during morning and afternoon services. A shorter version, Shalom Rav ("Abundant Peace"), is recited at evening services. Peace — shalom — is so central to Jewish liturgy that it concludes nearly every major prayer framework.

Key Takeaways

Sim Shalom is the primary prayer for peace, recited in the Amidah during Shacharit (morning) and Mincha (afternoon) services.
Shalom Rav is the evening counterpart, recited at Maariv (evening services).
Both prayers are the final blessing of the Amidah, reflecting the Talmudic teaching that peace is the vessel that holds all other blessings.
The Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim) also culminates in a blessing of peace, showing how central shalom is to Jewish worship.
Shalom appears in the closing of the Kaddish, Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals), and numerous other prayers, making peace a recurring theme throughout Jewish liturgy.

Sim Shalom — The Primary Prayer for Peace

Sim Shalom (שִׂים שָׁלוֹם) is the 19th and final blessing of the Amidah, belonging to what are called the three concluding benedictions of thanksgiving.

As the Siddur notes, these final three blessings "consist of prayers for the re-establishment of God's service at Jerusalem; thanksgiving for God's daily wonders in our behalf; and a prayer for peace" [Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday Shacharit, Amidah].

The text of Sim Shalom reads (in part):

"Grant peace, goodness, and blessing, grace, kindness, and compassion upon us and upon all Israel Your people. Bless us, our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance."

Why Is Peace the Final Blessing?

The placement of Sim Shalom as the last blessing of the Amidah is deeply meaningful. The Talmud teaches: "אין כלי מחזיק ברכה אלא השלום" — "There is no vessel that holds blessing except for peace" [Mishnah Uktzin 3:12, citing Talmudic tradition]. Peace is therefore the crown and culmination of all other blessings.

Shalom Rav — The Evening Prayer for Peace

At Maariv (evening prayer), the Ashkenazic rite substitutes Sim Shalom with the shorter Shalom Rav (שָׁלוֹם רָב):

"Abundant peace upon Israel Your people may You establish forever, for You are the sovereign Master of all peace. May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel at every time and at every hour with Your peace."

The Sephardic rite uses Sim Shalom at all services [Siddur Sefard, Weekday Shacharit, Amidah].

The Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim)

Another foundational Jewish "prayer for peace" is the Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing), drawn directly from the Torah [Numbers 6:24–26]:

"יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ... וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם" "May the Lord bless you and protect you... and grant you peace."

This blessing, recited by Kohanim (priests) during the Amidah, concludes with shalom. The Shulchan Arukh discusses the detailed laws of how the Kohanim conduct this blessing, including that they may not turn away or leave their position until the prayer leader begins Sim Shalom [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 128:16], further linking Birkat Kohanim directly to Sim Shalom.

The Rambam (Maimonides) similarly rules that the Kohanim must remain in place until the Shaliach Tzibur (prayer leader) completes Sim Shalom [Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 14:6], showing how the two are liturgically intertwined.

Oseh Shalom — The Universal Closing Prayer

Oseh Shalom (עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם) — "He Who makes peace" — appears at the conclusion of both the Amidah and Kaddish:

"עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל" "He Who makes peace in His high places, may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel — and say: Amen."

This phrase draws from [Job 25:2] and serves as a universal aspiration, encompassing not just Israel but all of humanity in some liturgical versions (v'al kol yoshvei tevel — "and upon all inhabitants of the world").

Peace as a Core Torah Value

The centrality of peace in Jewish prayer reflects a deep theological commitment. Hillel summarized the Torah with the principle "love peace and pursue peace" [Avot 1:12]. The Torah itself is described as "דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם" — "Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace" [Proverbs 3:17].