Meet Rabbi Arush

Rabbi Shalom Arush
Head of “Chut Shel Chessed” Institutions

Chut Shel Chessed’s incredible success is largely due to its leader – Rabbi Shalom Arush, and his unique ability to reach out and touch the hearts of Jews and non-Jews throughout the world.

Rabbi Arush is not your typical orthodox rabbi. Born in Morocco, he made aliyah and moved to Israel with his parents at age thirteen. After graduating high-school, he served in the Israeli Defense Force’s elite naval rescue unit as an airborne combat-medic, where he took part in many clandestine missions.

After completing his three year stint in the service, Rabbi Arush attended university, majoring in economics. During that time, five of his closest friends were killed in a helicopter crash while carrying out an army mission.

At their funerals, the Rabbi wondered about the seeming futility of life. This tragedy was the catalyst for a complete metamorphosis in the Rabbi’s outlook on the world, and eventually led to him discovering the truth of Torah and mitzvot. You can read more about Rabbi Arush’s incredible story of teshuva and emuna here. 

Rabbi Arush studied in several yeshivot until he finally found the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslev. Rabbi Arush learned with Breslev giants like Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt”l and Rabbi Shmuel Shapiro zt”l .

Eventually, they urged the Rabbi to move to Jerusalem to begin bringing his fellow Jews closer to G-d. With his teacher’s blessings, Rabbi Arush established Chut Shel Chessed Institutions twenty years ago. To learn more about Chut Shel Chessed Institutions and Breslev Israel, click here.

Rabbi Arush also travels around the world, lecturing on Judaism and Breslev. In his lectures, Rabbi Arush focuses on Rebbe Nachman’s teachings on developing a strong trust in our Creator and in improving personal relationships, both within and outside of the home.

Among Rabbi Arush’s students, which number in the thousands, are famous actors and singers who left the glitter of secularism to lead a Torah-true life.

Some of the actors and singers are using their talents to bring their fellow Jews to Torah. Shuly Rand, of the Oscar– winning movie, “Ushpizin”, (2004) is among the Rabbi’s students and followers. To learn more about Ushpizin, click here.)

Rabbi Arush has a growing number of students who are now spreading his special teachings on emuna, personal growth, and happiness around the world in English, including Rabbi Elchanan Elgrod, Rav Yonaton Gal’ed, Rabbi Yonaton Balaish, Gedale Fenster, and more! You can watch them in the VOD section of our website.