Shomrim
/ʃoʊˈmrɪm/noun
Volunteer Jewish neighborhood patrols that monitor streets and assist with safety and security.
Did you know?The word comes from the Hebrew root ש־מ־ר, the same root used in biblical language for guarding sacred duties, vineyards, covenants, and boundaries.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
שָׁמַר (shāmar)
“To guard, keep, observe, or protect”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
שֹׁמֵר (shōmēr)
“A guard, keeper, or watchman”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
שֹׁמְרִים (shōmrīm)
“Guards or watchmen; the masculine plural of shōmēr”
Rabbinic and Medieval Hebrew
Hebrew
שומרים (shomrim)
“People responsible for guarding property, persons, or entrusted objects”
20th Century
Modern Hebrew/Yiddish
שומרים / shomrim
“Guards, watchmen, or security personnel”
Modern English
English
shomrim
“Jewish volunteer neighborhood patrols, especially in Orthodox communities”