Alliance of Rabbis
In Islamic States
Support ARIS
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The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States

"Rabbis bring greater peace in the world” – Talmud

Ninety-five percent of world Jewry lives in just nine countries, which is less than ten percent of the world’s nations.

And yet, there are pockets of Jews and active Jewish communities in most of the remaining 186 countries. Dedicated rabbis and their families make enormous personal sacrifices to serve these minor congregations.

Such rabbis play an outsize role of epic importance. Often they do much more than enable fragile communities to continue, and their members to sustain their faith and connectivity. Indeed, such rabbis are uniquely positioned to interface with host governments at the highest levels in order to nurture a hospitable environment in which Jewish traditional life can flourish. In so doing, the local rabbis also have a unique role to play in fostering international peace and universal brotherhood.

Most people would be surprised to learn that not only are there Jews in most Islamic states, but quite active Jewish communities in a number of them. Some of the Jews in Muslim countries are the remnants of communities with centuries, even millennia-old roots where they live. Others, increasingly, find themselves in these remote locations for a variety of personal, professional or governmental reasons.

It is worth noting that Jewish men and women who might normally have little active interest in Jewish life, desire a more meaningful connection to their roots and traditions precisely when they are far from the major Jewish population centers. For this reason alone it is so important to have idealistic rabbis ready and willing to serve in such remote outposts.

The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS) was created to connect and support the activities of rabbis serving Jewish communities in predominantly Muslim countries. At present, the membership of ARIS is comprised of rabbis in Albania, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and more, as well as rabbis serving in communities of other Muslim majority regions, such as North Cyprus, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.

The significance of this cannot be overstated.

We live in precarious times. No day goes by in which we are not reminded of the fragility of peace, the imminence of catastrophe, and the parlous state of communication between societies with different and conflicting perspectives.

The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States is one of the very few apolitical, non-government organizations that enjoys favorable relations with parties that may be in conflict with one another. Owing to its unique sensitivity to all sides, ARIS can serve a significant mitigating role is defusing tensions and bridging a gap that might otherwise yield to outright conflagration.

Rabbis have played such a role in Islamic societies for centuries. Their counsel had often been sought by kings and ministers – precisely because they were apolitical – to help mitigate delicate issues of international significance. As such, ARIS is continuing noble tradition of rabbis as peacemakers.

The rabbis of ARIS are full-time residents in the countries and communities they serve. They support local Jewish life while leading the initiatives to combat Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. The rabbis of ARIS are always available to share their knowledge with governmental and non-governmental bodies on all matters of coexistence, mutual tolerance and the quest for global peace and harmony. As a united voice, they provide a powerful model for mutual respect and the quest for interfaith deference.

The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States is a global Jewish asset, and a global Jewish responsibility. As critical as its members’ role is in serving their local Jewish communities, such communities rarely possess the means to support a full-time rabbi and his family. This alone should merit the generous support of concerned Jews everywhere.

However the meta-role played by The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States – as peace makers and counselors to government leaders and decision makers – is one that echoes globally and benefits all of humankind. As such, it should enjoy the generous support of people of good will wherever they may be.

Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States

About ARIS

A united rabbinic voice across the Muslim world

Connecting and supporting spiritual leaders who sustain Jewish communities across predominantly Muslim countries.

ARIS rabbis meeting with a community leader
Connection in action

Why ARIS exists

Jewish life reaches far beyond the world’s largest communities

Ninety-five percent of world Jewry lives in just nine countries — yet active Jewish communities remain in many of the world’s other nations.

Dedicated rabbis and their families make enormous personal sacrifices to serve these smaller congregations. They enable fragile communities to continue, help their members sustain faith and connection, and nurture an environment in which Jewish traditional life can flourish.

Because they live locally and understand their societies from within, these rabbis are also uniquely positioned to foster international peace and universal brotherhood.

95%of world Jewry lives in nine countries
186other nations hold Jewish communities
15+countries represented in ARIS
1united rabbinic alliance

A living presence

Centuries of Jewish life in Muslim societies

Jewish communities in Muslim countries are not a footnote. Many preserve roots that reach back centuries — even millennia.

Some families are remnants of ancient communities. Others find themselves in remote locations for personal, professional or governmental reasons. Far from major Jewish population centres, people often seek a more meaningful connection to their roots and traditions.

This is why idealistic rabbis, ready and willing to serve distant communities, matter so deeply. Their presence turns isolation into belonging and memory into living tradition.

Rabbis and community representatives meeting together
Living tradition

What we do

Supporting communities. Building bridges.

ARIS strengthens Jewish life locally while helping its rabbis speak together on questions of coexistence, tolerance and peace.

Historic Jewish manuscript01 · Heritage

Preserve heritage

Help communities sustain prayer, learning, holidays and the traditions that have carried Jewish life across generations.

ARIS rabbis and community leaders meeting together02 · Leadership

Support leadership

Connect rabbis, share resources and strengthen the families who serve communities far from the world’s large Jewish centres.

Jewish and Muslim community representatives together03 · Coexistence

Advance coexistence

Build enduring relationships with governments and civic leaders while combating both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

A trusted voice

Rabbis as peacemakers

“Rabbis bring greater peace in the world.” — Talmud

ARIS is one of the few apolitical, non-governmental organisations able to maintain favourable relations with parties that may be in conflict. Its sensitivity to different perspectives gives it a rare capacity to defuse tension and bridge divides.

Rabbis have played this role in Islamic societies for centuries. Kings and ministers sought their counsel precisely because they were independent and trusted. ARIS continues that tradition in the modern world.

Where we serve

One alliance, many communities

ARIS members are full-time residents of the countries they serve. Together they connect communities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

🇦🇱Albania
🇦🇿Azerbaijan
🇲🇦Morocco
🇹🇷Turkey
🇹🇳Tunisia
🇮🇷Iran
🇰🇿Kazakhstan
🇽🇰Kosovo
🇰🇬Kyrgyzstan
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
🇺🇬Uganda
🇺🇿Uzbekistan
🇳🇬Nigeria
🇨🇾North Cyprus
🇷🇺Tatarstan
🇷🇺Bashkortostan

A global responsibility

Local service with meaning far beyond one community

ARIS is a global Jewish asset. Its rabbis sustain Jewish life where local communities often lack the means to support full-time spiritual leadership.

Their wider role — as peacemakers, counsellors and trusted partners to decision-makers — benefits people of goodwill everywhere.

Support ARISContact Us
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