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<DIV>In a message dated 10/24/2006 3:48:11 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
hlampel@thejnet.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>:> Is
there a reason why we say ""Shalom Aleikhem"" to individuals, not <BR>:>
""Shalom Alekha/ayikh""?<BR><BR>I was under the impression that the plural
form was introduced under the influence of the (German/European?) usage that
considers the plural form a mark of respect. Do Sephardim also say "Shalom
Aleichem" to individuals?<BR> <BR>Zvi Lampel <BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>I believe the Arabic equivalent is also plural -- salaam aleikem even to an
individual, if I'm not mistaken. So I would guess that Sefardim use the
plural form too. Just my guess.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>[The other day I was in the supermarket when a ditzy non-Jewish woman said
to me, "Sholom aleichem" and then said the same thing to a (non-Jewish)
worker. She then "explained" to him, "I am sending greetings from my
spirit to your spirit." ]</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><B><BR></B><BR><B>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============</B></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>