Question
What does the word “Shlita” mean and when is it used – for someone alive or for one who has died?
Answer
It is used only when someone is alive and will often follow a person’s name, usually a prominent Rabbi’s name, when they addressed formally. The word is an acronym that stands for “Sheyichya L’Yamim Tovim Aruchim” , which is a Hebrew prayer for the person to “live for good and long days.”
All the Best,
Rabbi Meir Goldberg,
Rutgers Jewish Xperience