Welcome to Sia’h Shalom! I’m Alick, originally from Scotland, and I’ve been living in Jerusalem for over thirty years. Alongside my colleagues, I’ve been exploring the meaning of peace for over a decade. One key insight I’ve gained is that the English word ‘Peace’ and the Hebrew word ‘שלום’ (Shalom) have distinct connotations. While ‘Peace’ originates from the Latin ‘Pax’ signifying an agreement or deal, ‘Shalom’ — like the Arabic ‘سلام’ (Salam) — derives from the word ‘Shalem’ meaning wholeness or unity.
While political arrangements are essential components of peace, they do not fully encompass its meaning. True peace requires that every voice be heard and no person be excluded from the dialogue. To cultivate this type of peace, we must embrace a life-affirming approach and believe in the transformative power of genuine listening.
Dr. Alick Isaacs, born in Scotland and raised in England, immigrated to Israel in 1986. He is a lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and previously taught at Haifa and Bar-Ilan Universities. He has served as a researcher and program director at the Shalom Hartman Institute and is a graduate of the Mandel Fellowship program. Alick has authored books and articles on religion, peace, and conflict resolution, focusing on the philosophical and theological disparities between Western and Jewish thought. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Shuli, and they have five children and grandchildren.
