Shalom Arush (Hebrew: ; born 15 April 1952) is an Israeli Breslov rabbi

and founder of the Chut Shel Chessed Institutions.[1] He spreads the teachings
of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov among Sephardic and Ashkenazic baalei teshuva
around the world through his books and speaking appearances. Arush is
considered one of today's leading Hasidic spiritual guides, inspiring hundreds of
thousands through his books, audio CDs and online presence.[2]
Arush was one of 9 children born to his parents in the town of Beni Mellal,
Morocco. His was a family of pious Jews who valued Torah scholars and visited
the graves of tzaddikim. He learned in the local Jewish Alliance school and
studied Hebrew in the evenings.[2] His eldest brother married and immigrated
to Israel before the rest of the family;[2] Arush and his parents and other
siblings moved to Israel when he was 13.[3]

The family settled in Petah Tikva, where his parents enrolled Arush in a
mamlachti-dati (state-religious) school; he later attended a secular high school.
In 1970 he joined the Israel Defense Forces as an airborne combat medic,
where he took part in many dangerous 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 one of
the catalysts for his personal teshuva.[2]

Following his army service, Arush studied economics and accounting at Tel Aviv
University.[4]
Arush's quest for spirituality led him to Rabbi Eliezer Berland, who introduced
him to Breslov practices such as hitbodedut and hosted him for Shabbat meals.
[2] Together with Rabbi Berland, Rabbi Arush learned with such Breslov giants
as Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Bender and Rabbi Shmuel Shapiro.[5]

Arush next enrolled at Yeshivat Dvar Yerushalayim as he took on more and

more mitzvot. Eventually he cut his long hair and became a practicing Torah
Jew. He was introduced to his wife, Miriam,[6] on a shidduch, and the
newlyweds moved to Moshav Chazon Yechezkel. Later he moved to Bnei Brak
to join Rabbi Berland's new yeshiva there, and when the yeshiva moved to
Jerusalem, he and his family followed. Upon the directive of Rabbi Berland, in
1985[1] Arush opened his own yeshiva with 15 students; a year later, he had
80 students and moved into his present quarters in the Musrara neighborhood
of Jerusalem.[2]