Yitzhak Arieli


Yitzhak Arieli was a leading Israeli rabbi.

Biography

Arieli was born in 1896 in the Old City of Jerusalem, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire, and studied at Torat Hayim and Etz Chaim yeshivot in Jerusalem.
He was one of the founders of Kiryat Shmuel and Neve Sha'anan neighborhoods in central Jerusalem. He was also the spiritual leader of the Knesset Yisrael neighborhood, where he resided.
Arieli developed a close relationship with Rav Kook following the latter's arrival in Jerusalem in 1921, and became one of his leading students.
Arieli was appointed as posek of Bikur Holim Hospital and served as the mashgiach ruchani of Jerusalem's Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva.
His grandson Asher Arieli is a senior lecturer at Yeshivas Mir. His granddaughter Yael Willner is a judge on the Supreme Court of Israel.

Awards and honours