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Why do we say Shalom Aliechem in Kiddush Levanah? And what should one do if there are no other people around (or not enough people around)?

SimchasTorah
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yydl
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  • What if you have one other person, do you say it three times or just once? – Seth J Jul 31 '12 at 14:26
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    @SethJ When my rebbi had to say KL, he took me outside and said shalom aleichem to me thrice. – YDK Jul 31 '12 at 15:14
  • related: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/8196/kiddush-levanah-saying-aleichem-sholom-with-the-other-person?lq=1 – Menachem Jul 31 '12 at 22:35

3 Answers3

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The Original sorce for this Minhag is a Maseches Sofrim.

ואומר לחברו שלש פעמים שלום, וילך לביתו בלב טוב

The reasons given are:

  • The Mahril based on the Gemara in Sanhedrin 42A says since it is such a great Mitzvah it is as if we are greeting the Shechina.Therfore when we say Shalom Aleichem we are in a sense greeting the Shechina.
  • Matteh Moshe(540) adds to his Rebbi's reasoning that after wishing bad upon our enemies we are telling Hashem that these people are not included among those whose downfall we seek.
  • A third reason given is just like after making a Bracha (blessing) on food, we partake of it so to here after we make a Bracha on the moon we partake of it by use its light to identify a friend.

In response to what to do if there is not enough people around the Mateh Moshe says you greet one person three times. The Rebbe of the Mahril say that if you have three people you say to one friend twice ‘Shalom Aleichem’ and to the other once.

Summarized from:

1) http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%207%20Ron.pdf

2) http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/140/Q1/

SimchasTorah
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  • Anything on the second part of the question: What to do if no one's around? – yydl Jun 20 '10 at 23:31
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    You can tell everyone made Kiddush levanah – Ishyehudi Jun 21 '10 at 14:37
  • I once observed an Odom Godol (at the Kosel) say "Sholom Aleichem Aleichem Sholom" x3 to himself, or to nobody in particular. That would only make sense according to the first, and possibly second reasons. – user146 Jun 21 '10 at 14:44
  • WHO is the adam godol ? – SimchasTorah Jun 21 '10 at 22:43
  • Sorry, I am not comfortable saying. But I can sat that he is a Ben Shivim, and has been a Rosh Yeshiva for decades, and has hundreds (thousands?) of talmidim, va'ani besocham. – user146 Jun 22 '10 at 18:33
  • AY, If you register your account, you'll be recognized by mi.yodeya as one person, and you'll be able to leave comments as such instead of improperly as answers. – Isaac Moses Jun 23 '10 at 00:44
  • see this answer for another reason for the minhag: http://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/8208/603 – Menachem Aug 01 '12 at 05:46
  • What you mention from the Maharil is probably based on the idea that מקבל פני אורחין is also like קבלת השכינה. – HaLeiVi Mar 17 '16 at 04:00
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You wouldn't say it on your own, but you can say it after Kiddush Levana to the first three people you meet. (I was advised this in my youth.)

msh210
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Michael Sandler
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3

Since the first question was answered already I will address the second one only.

The Avnei Yashfei 3:50:3 writes that if one says kiddush levana alone there is no inyan to search out for someone to say shalom aleichem since he said the passuk Tipal aleiheim and no one heard him(see @simchas Torah answer -Mattaeh Moshe reason).He adds by saying if one said it with a tzibbur even though he said that passuk quietly ,the fact that the tzibbur knows he says the passuk he still should say shalom aliechem.

sam
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    In this situation I usually leave "שלום עליכם" in my gchat status until I get three responses. I admit it's more for fun than anything else – Double AA Jul 03 '14 at 05:09