This form of greeting was traditional among the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. However, it is very similar to the Arabic-language greeting used by many Muslims throughout the world, assalamu alaikum. The Christian Maltese phrase,sliem għalikom is cognate with both Arabic and Hebrew equivalents. The greeting is used in plural - so as to greet multiple people - even when greeting a lone individual. One religious explanation for this is that one greets both a body and a soul. But it ought to be noted that many plural Hebrew words are used in reference to something singular.