We have a mitzva to relate to everyone respectfully and lovingly, and one way to show this respect is by greeting them. This is especially important in interactions with the elderly and dignified. We are told that Rabbi Yoĥanan ben Zakkai, the leader of his generation, made a point of extending greetings to everyone, even random non-Jews in the marketplace. Jews customarily greet each other with the word “shalom,” which means peace and is also one of God’s names. This is because the interaction of two people owes much to the divine unity that energizes their souls. As it says, “Love your fellow as yourself; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18). Because of this unity, the interaction of two people can be symbiotic and productive, and the divine spark can shine forth from within them both.
