These efforts continue in local communities throughout America. Ending all of these dreadful forms of violence is a primary goal of Judaism and the Jewish people. We join our hands and hearts with all people of all faith traditions to do mitzvot, good deeds, and to bring God's presence more fully into the world. The root itself means full, or complete. Hello and goodbye represent a cycle of interaction, a complete meeting, and so the word shalom is used both to open and to close an encounter.
Peace is the ultimate state of completion, and so is represented by the same word.
In this state, the world will at last be complete, having achieved the peace for which we must strive each day. As we work towards this ideal, the notion of peace as the benchmark of utopia should inform our every action as Jews. You are actually wishing your loved ones a shabbat of peace and completeness of spirit. Shabbat is a taste of that for which we strive every other day of the week. It is also a great opportunity for congregations to reflect on their actions during the rest of the week.