| RabbiShalom Arush | |
|---|---|
 Arush in 2022 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1952-04-15) 15 April 1952 (age 72) Beni Mellal, Morocco |
| Alma mater | Shuvu Bonim Tel Aviv University |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
Shalom Arush (Hebrew: שלום ארוש) is an Israeli rabbi and the founder of Chut Shel Chessed Institutions. Arush is the most prominent remaining follower of Eliezer Berland, an Israeli cult leader who has been convicted of rape and fraud and remains under investigation for murder. He works to spread Berland's teachings, which are a form of Breslov Hasidism, among both Jews and non-Jews through books and speaking appearances.
Personal life
Arush was one of nine children born to his parents in the town of Beni Mellal, Morocco. He learned in the local Jewish Alliance school and studied Hebrew in the evenings. His eldest brother married and immigrated to Israel before the rest of the family; Arush, his parents, and other siblings immigrated to Israel when he was 13.
The family settled in Petah Tikva, where his parents enrolled Arush in a state-religious school; he later attended a secular high school. In 1970 he joined the Israel Defense Forces as an airborne combat medic, taking part in many missions, including missions during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. During that time, five of his closest friends were killed in a helicopter crash while carrying out an army mission. This event was the catalyst for his religious conversion. Following his army service, Arush majored in economics at Tel Aviv University. He was introduced to his wife, Miriam, on a shidduch, and the newlyweds moved to Moshav Chazon Yechezkel. Later he moved to Bnei Brak to join Berland's new yeshiva there, and when the yeshiva moved to Jerusalem, he and his family followed.
Career
Arush attended several yeshivot before meeting Eliezer Berland, who appointed Arush as his personal assistant and protégé. Arush also studied with Levi Yitzchok Bender and Shmuel Shapira [he].
In 1985, upon the directive of Berland, Arush opened his own yeshiva, Chut Shel Chessed. Initially he had 15 students; a year later, he had 80 students and the yeshiva moved to its present quarters in the Musrara neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Today, Chut Shel Chessed Institutions includes an elementary school, a high school, a yeshiva, and a kollel. According to the school, it "has built a reputation for helping hundreds of people from some of the worst situations to dramatically turn their lives around. Some students have become well-respected rabbis in their own rights, while others have become some of Israel’s top writers, actors and musicians." Alumni include actor Shuli Rand. Yair Elitzur has said that Arush inspired his hit single Tamid Ohev Oti (2024).
In 1998 Arush opened a branch of Chut Shel Chesed in Ashdod and appointed Lazer Brody to head its rabbinic ordination program. In 2006, the Ashdod branch merged with the Jerusalem yeshiva and Brody became its mashpia (spiritual guide), as well as the translator of Arush's books into English.
Arush has continued to support Berland throughout his trial and conviction for multiple rapes, as well as a separate conviction for fraud and an ongoing murder investigation. Brody left Arush in 2019 and now follows Naftali Moskowitz of Ashdod.
Works
Arush has authored many works, which have been translated from Hebrew into English, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Portuguese, and Yiddish. Brody claims that, combined, they have sold more than a million copies. His works available in English are:
- Garden of Yearning: The Lost Princess (2007)
- Garden of Peace: A Marital Guide for Men Only (2008) ISBN 978-5-495-32106-9
- Garden of Emuna (2009) ISBN 978-1-59526-636-1
- Garden of Riches: A Guide to Financial Success (2021)
- In Forest Fields: A Unique Guide to Personal Prayer (2022)
- Women's Wisdom: Garden of Peace for Women (2023)
- Garden of Gratitude (2023)
References
- ^ Kliger, Aaron; Feldman, Yonatan. "From Airborne Medic to Spiritual Leader: An exclusive interview with Rabbi Shalom Arush". Sha'a Tova Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- Arush, Rabbi Shalom (2007). The Garden of Emuna: A practical guide to life. ISBN 978-1-58330-974-2. Inside cover text
- ^ "Rabbi Shalom Arush: Head of "Chut Shel Chessed" institutions". breslev.co.il. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- Besser, Yisroel (26 June 2013). "Gardening Tools". Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly Magazine (465): 41. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "To Our Honored Donors". Israel Relief Fund. 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- Arfa, Orit (27 July 2010). "Rabbi Follows Marital Advice Success With Book for Women". The Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- "Chut Shel Chessed Institutions: "Its ways are ways of peace" (Mishlei 3, 17)". breslev.co.il. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- "How 'Tamid Ohev Oti' became an unlikely Israeli anthem of 2024". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "Meet Lazer". Lazer Beams. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ""אוי למי שיהרהר אחר הרב ברלנד"". כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- "הרב שלום ארוש: "צריך להיות מטומטם כדי להרהר נגד הרב ברלנד"". סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- Yekusiel (2016-05-03). "Rav Arush: Rav Berland Is In Sakanas Chaim". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- Nachshoni, Kobi (2015-07-21). "Breslov rabbi: A rabbi must never receive women". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- "Rabbi Lazer Brody shlita Abandoned Berland-Supporting Shalom Arush LONG AGO!". 16 September 2020.
- Lazer Brody (2019-03-23). "End of an Era, New Beginning". Good Reads. Retrieved 2020-02-18.