Contention makes it is impossible to speak. For in the main speech stems from peace, as it is written, “I will now speak peace” (Psalms 122:8). It is therefore necessary for each person, prior to praying, to accept upon himself the positive commandment to “Love your neighbor as [you love] yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), so that as a result of there being love and peace, he is then able to speak in prayer.
However, when there is no peace and there is contention, it is impossible to speak. Therefore, even if one person wants peace, but there are those who oppose him, then despite [his desire for peace], the peace is not perfect. Consequently, it is impossible to speak and pray, even though he is a man of peace, since there are those who oppose him. {“I am peace. Yet, how can I speak? They are for war” (Psalms 120:7) .}
This is what King David, may he rest in peace, said, “I am peace.” I am a man of peace, and were it up to me, I would be at peace with everyone. Nevertheless, “How can I speak? They are for war.” That is, even though “I am peace,” it is nevertheless impossible to speak because of the war and the dispute they wage against me, as explained above.
2. And note: all words stem from peace, as explained above. This being the case, one who is in the aspect of peace is capable of knowing the speech of all people, just like the Holy One, Who is called “Peace.” For He knows the speech of the entire world, as it is written, “and He tells man what he has spoken” (Amos 4:13). For all words come from peace, as explained above.
3. All speech comes from heat. Someone who has a lot of warmth speaks a great deal. Conversely, someone who has become cold and has no warmth, is unable to speak. This is because speech stems from heat, as it is written, “My heart is hot within me. A fire rages in my utterances, [when] I speak with my tongue” (Psalms 39:4). This is the flame of fire….
עַל יְדֵי מַחֲלֹקֶת אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר. כִּי עִקַּר הַדִּבּוּר הוּא מִשָּׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים קכ״ב:ח׳): אֲדַבְּרָה נָּא שָׁלוֹם. וְעַל כֵּן צָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד קֹדֶם הַתְּפִלָּה לְקַבֵּל עַל עַצְמוֹ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה: וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ, כְּדֵי שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה שֶׁיֵּשׁ אַהֲבָה וְשָׁלוֹם, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יוּכַל לְדַבֵּר בַּתְּפִלָּה;
Contention makes it is impossible to speak. For in the main speech stems from peace, as it is written, “I will now speak peace” (Psalms 122:8). It is therefore necessary for each person, prior to praying, to accept upon himself the positive commandment to “Love your neighbor as [you love] yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), so that as a result of there being love and peace, he is then able to speak in prayer.
אֲבָל כְּשֶׁאֵין שָׁלוֹם וְיֵשׁ מַחֲלֹקֶת, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר, וְעַל כֵּן אֲפִלּוּ אִם אֶחָד רוֹצֶה שָׁלוֹם, רַק שֶׁהֵם חוֹלְקִין עָלָיו, עִם כָּל זֶה אֵין הַשָּׁלוֹם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת עַל כֵּן אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל, אַף שֶׁהוּא אִישׁ שָׁלוֹם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁהֵם חוֹלְקִין עָלָיו.
However, when there is no peace and there is contention, it is impossible to speak. Therefore, even if one person wants peace, but there are those who oppose him, then despite [his desire for peace], the peace is not perfect. Consequently, it is impossible to speak and pray, even though he is a man of peace, since there are those who oppose him. {“I am peace. Yet, how can I speak? They are for war” (Psalms 120:7) .}
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (שם קכ): אֲנִי שָׁלוֹם, כִּי אֲנִי אִישׁ שָׁלוֹם וּמִצִּדִּי הָיָה שָׁלוֹם עִם כֻּלָּם, וְעִם כָּל זֶה: וְכִי אֲדַבֵּר, הֵמָּה לַמִּלְחָמָה, הַיְנוּ שֶׁאַף שֶׁאֲנִי שָׁלוֹם, עִם כָּל זֶה אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר מֵחֲמַת הַמִּלְחָמָה וְהַמַּחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהֵם חוֹלְקִין עָלַי כַּנַּ"ל:
This is what King David, may he rest in peace, said, “I am peace.” I am a man of peace, and were it up to me, I would be at peace with everyone. Nevertheless, “How can I speak? They are for war.” That is, even though “I am peace,” it is nevertheless impossible to speak because of the war and the dispute they wage against me, as explained above.
וְהִנֵּה כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים הֵם מִשָּׁלוֹם כַּנַּ"ל, וְעַל־כֵּן מִי שֶׁהוּא בִּבְחִינַת שָׁלוֹם, יָכוֹל לֵידַע כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים שֶׁל כָּל הָעוֹלָם, כְּמוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא שֶׁנִּקְרָא שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים שֶׁל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (עמוס ד׳:י״ג): וּמַגִּיד לְאָדָם מַה שֵּׂחוֹ; כִּי כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים בָּאִים מִשָּׁלוֹם כַּנַּ"ל,
2. And note: all words stem from peace, as explained above. This being the case, one who is in the aspect of peace is capable of knowing the speech of all people, just like the Holy One, Who is called “Peace.” For He knows the speech of the entire world, as it is written, “and He tells man what he has spoken” (Amos 4:13). For all words come from peace, as explained above.
וְזֶה אוֹתִיּוֹת שָׁלוֹם – רָאשֵׁי־תֵּבוֹת: וּמַגִּיד לְאָדָם מַה שֵׂחוֹ:
Hence, the letters ShaLOM (peace) are an acronym of “U’magid L’adam Mah Seichoh (and He tells man what he has spoken).”
כָּל הַדִּבּוּרִים בָּאִים מֵחֲמִימוּת, וּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ חֲמִימוּת הַרְבֵּה מְדַבֵּר הַרְבֵּה, וְכֵן מִי שֶׁנִּתְקָרֵר וְאֵין בּוֹ חֲמִימוּת, אֵין יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר, כִּי הַדִּבּוּר הוּא מֵחֲמִימוּת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים ל״ט:ד׳): חַם לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי בַּהֲגִיגִי תִבְעַר אֵשׁ דִּבַּרְתִּי בִּלְשׁוֹנִי; וְהוּא שַׁלְהוֹבָא דְּנוּרָא וְכוּ':
3. All speech comes from heat. Someone who has a lot of warmth speaks a great deal. Conversely, someone who has become cold and has no warmth, is unable to speak. This is because speech stems from heat, as it is written, “My heart is hot within me. A fire rages in my utterances, [when] I speak with my tongue” (Psalms 39:4). This is the flame of fire….