Making Peace

Hillel used to say: Be thou as the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving humankind and bringing them near to the torah.
-Pirkei Avot 1:12

Whilst they were thus conversing two men passed by and Elijah remarked, These two have a share in the world to come. R. Beroka then approached and asked them, What is your occupation? They replied, We are jesters, when we see men depressed we cheer them up; furthermore when we see two people quarrelling we strive hard to make peace between them.
-Ta'anith 22a

Commentary: Peace is very, very important. It is hard to have a happy, spiritually fulfilling life without peace. In Hebrew, the word for peace, Shalom, is related to the word for wholeness, Shalem. Thus, peace is a state of balance and completeness. Notice also that while war and anger can destroy things quickly, peace takes time before its full benefits are realized. Therefore, devote yourselves to peace.