Yaakov Ariel
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yaakov Ariel is the chief rabbi
of the city of Ramat Gan, Israel
and one of the leading rabbis of the religious Zionist movement
. Ariel had served as the rosh yeshiva
of the yeshiva
in the abandoned Israeli settlement of Yamit
in the Sinai desert until 1982 and is currently the president of the Ramat Gan Yeshiva (rosh yeshiva is Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira). He also served as the rabbi of Kfar Maimon
for about 25 years.
Born in Jerusalem, Rabbi Ariel learnt at the Bnei Akiva
Yeshiva in Kfar HaRoeh
, Midreshet Noam in Pardes Hana, and Mercaz HaRav
in Jerusalem. At Mercaz HaRav, he was one of the most important students of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook
.
In 2003, Ariel was a leading candidate for the Israeli Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi
, but lost due to opposition from the ultra-Orthodox. His brother, Rabbi Yisrael Ariel
is the former chief rabbi of Yamit and founder of the Temple Institute
.
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of the city of Ramat Gan, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and one of the leading rabbis of the religious Zionist movement
Religious Zionism
Religious Zionism is an ideology that combines Zionism and Jewish religious faith...
. Ariel had served as the rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of the yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in the abandoned Israeli settlement of Yamit
Yamit
Yamit was an Israeli settlement in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula with a population of about 2,500 people .The settlement was established during Israel's occupation of the peninsula from the end of the 1967 Six-Day War, until that part of the Sinai was handed over to Egypt in 1982 as...
in the Sinai desert until 1982 and is currently the president of the Ramat Gan Yeshiva (rosh yeshiva is Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira). He also served as the rabbi of Kfar Maimon
Kfar Maimon
Kfar Maimon is a religious moshav in southern Israel. Located near Netivot and covering 5,000 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Sdot Negev Regional Council...
for about 25 years.
Born in Jerusalem, Rabbi Ariel learnt at the Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva is the largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, with over 125,000 members in 37 countries. It was established in Mandate Palestine in 1929.-History:...
Yeshiva in Kfar HaRoeh
Kfar Haroeh
Kfar Haroeh is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,500....
, Midreshet Noam in Pardes Hana, and Mercaz HaRav
Mercaz haRav
Mercaz HaRav , more properly, Mercaz HaRav Kook ), is a national-religious yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel, founded in 1924 by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. It has become synonymous with his teachings....
in Jerusalem. At Mercaz HaRav, he was one of the most important students of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook
Zvi Yehuda Kook
Zvi Yehuda Kook was a rabbi, leader of Religious Zionism and Rosh Yeshiva of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva...
.
In 2003, Ariel was a leading candidate for the Israeli Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbinate of Israel
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel is recognized by law as the supreme halakhic and spiritual authority for the Jewish people in Israel. The Chief Rabbinate Council assists the two chief rabbis, who alternate in its presidency. It has legal and administrative authority to organize religious...
, but lost due to opposition from the ultra-Orthodox. His brother, Rabbi Yisrael Ariel
Yisrael Ariel
Rabbi Yisrael Ariel was the chief rabbi of the evacuated Israeli settlement of Yamit in the Sinai desert during the years when the Sinai was controlled by Israel. His brother, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, served as the rosh yeshiva in the yeshiva in Yamit and is currently the chief rabbi of the city of...
is the former chief rabbi of Yamit and founder of the Temple Institute
Temple Institute
The Temple Institute, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash , is an organization in Israel focusing on the controversial endeavor of establishing the Third Temple. Its long-term aims are to build the third Jewish temple on the Temple Mount, on the site currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock, and...
.
His Pupils
- Rabbi Shlomo Levi, chief rabbi of Kiryat Shmona.
- Rabbi Yehuda Amichay, the rabbi of Torah and the land institute.
Books
- "Raising from the Desert"- "Ola Min Hamidbar". About the building and destruction of Yamit.
- "In the Tent of the Torah"- "B'haola Shel Torah". Answers of Halachic questions, five volumes.
- "In the tent of Torah"- "B'haole Torah". Essays on the Jewish festivals and Chumash, two volumes.