Living people sometimes have "שליט״א" added after their respective names. This means, roughly, "may he live a good, long life". That seems like a nice blessing for anyone; yet, in my experience, only great people (rabbis and the like) and forebears are so blessed. I wonder why this is.
- Does anyone know of a source that discusses, specifically, the use of "שליט״א" either only for special people or for all (not unworthy) people? What does that source say?
But I'm guessing there's no such source. In that case:
- How long has this blessing been in use? Did it start as a blessing only for special people or for all (not unworthy) people? If it started general, when did it become specific?
Answer
The Rama (CM 49:7) and the Levush (ibid.) use the expressions שליט"א and שלי"ט as an example of a siman on a document that could be used to distinguish two people of the same name and same father's name if only one of them had a father still living. This example is also mentioned in the works of subsequent acharonim. Apparently, this appellation was even for ordinary people.
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