Netivot Olam II class 3: Etymology of Shalom

[Moderator]

We discussed the meaning of shalom (peace) as is understood from the letters that make up the Hebrew word. How do the implications of each letter affect our personal interactions?

[miriam4]

Shin - wow! a Torah source for "siding with the underdog"! Always try to find a source of commonality, make sure to support the often underappreciated ("smol") side.
Lamed - rising above ourselves - prerequisite for shalom - oh yeah!
Mem - closed letter symbolizes that shalom is impenetrable, I see that in communities that are united on their stances, there is no messing with them.

[Dara1]

THe letters give us a reminder, if we can keep in our minds "goal of Shalom" "goal to make shleimut" repeated in our minds it makes it easier for us to keep in mind the definition what that REALLY means if we can just keep in mind the letters. so as you go about your day, before we speak, before we do "goal of Shalom" "goal to make shleimut" "Shin, lamed, vav, closed mem"

How is it that you can't declare someone wrong? I know to a certain extent we don't often see evil, or "real" koffers since Rav Moshe's psak that most people will not know enough Torah to be considered that they could be. But really some people like Berg (of The Kabbalah Centere). Or what about people who are Jews and seem on the derech and still do things like promote anti-circumcision etc.?