Sim Shalom – Steve McConnell Arrangement

I’ll just share this here. After this past Shabbat morning, where I went to a bat mitzvah and the entire b’nei mitzvah class sang “Sim Shalom” to the tune of the round, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” I have had the song in my head. I have always loved the music (and frankly, the words) of that round; I sang it for years as a child and adolescent, and I know all three lines to the round.

But this arrangement of Sim Shalom… well, it blew me away. I found myself singing along before the first play-through was half done, and harmonizing on my second time around, without thought. It’s simply one of the most simple and beautiful arrangements of a song I’ve ever heard.

I hope that it will hit you as hard as it hit me.

Sim Shalom (Steve McConnell Arrangement)

Sim shalom, sim shalom
Tovah uv’rachah chaim
Sim shalom, sim shalom
Chen vachesed verachamim

Vetov yihyeh be’eineicha levar’cheinu ulevarech
Et kol amcha Yisrael
Bechol et uvechol sha’ah bish’lomecha
Uvechol sha’ah bish’lomecha

Sim shalom, sim shalom
Tovah uv’rachah chaim
Sim shalom, sim shalom
Chen vachesed verachamim

Father, may you find it to be pleasing in Your eyes
To bless all of your people Israel
Bless us with peace each moment and in every hour
May Your peace be with us in every hour

Sim shalom, sim shalom
Tovah uv’rachah chaim
Sim shalom, sim shalom
Chen vachesed verachamim
Chen vachesed verachamim
Chen vachesed verachamim