When saying “Shalom” (greetings of peace) to someone, one should have in mind to bless that person, as if to say: “May you have shalom-peace.” And one who is responding to “Shalom” should say, “May you enjoy peace, blessing, and all good.” Similarly, when wishing “Shabbos Shalom” to someone, have in mind that “in the merit of Shabbos, may you have peace.” The one who responds says: “In the merit of Shabbos, may you have peace, and may you be blessed.”
One should also seek blessings from poor and the destitute people, as it is written, For Hashem hearkens to the destitute (Tehillim 69:34). Protect yourself and your soul and do not bring a curse upon yourself from Torah scholars or from the poor and destitute, “for their bite is the bite of a fox and their sting is the sting of a scorpion” (Avos 2:10) and “Hashem takes up their grievance” (Mishlei 22:23). Conversely, Torah scholars and poor people — really everybody — should guard their mouths very carefully and not curse anybody, so that nobody be punished on their account. For anyone whose fellow is punished on their account is not allowed into the proximity of the Holy One, blessed is He.
All the more so, must a person exert himself and endeavor to receive the blessings of his father and mother. Even if one is no longer supported financially by them and even if he lives at a great distance from them, he should not be lax about walking to them every Shabbos night or day (or on the festivals) to kiss their hands and to receive their blessings. For besides the fact that their blessings are most likely to come to fruition — inasmuch as they are blessing him with their whole heart and soul — it is also considered a mitzvah for the child, because he thereby shows his honor for his father and mother. He deserves his reward.
One must be very careful to not bring a curse upon himself from his father or mother, for even though they might have harsh words it is not from the heart, and they don’t really want to see any evil befall their child whatsoever, and they immediately regret their words —nevertheless, when combined with the sin of causing anguish and anger to his father or mother, there is room to fear that the evil may yet befall him, Heaven forefend. Likewise, a father or mother should have mercy on their children and be careful to not curse them. One who blesses, receives blessing from Hashem.
