On a hot and dusty September afternoon, I arrived in Holon to interview Rabbi Nitzan Reuven, 49, a spiritual leader known as a bridge-builder – fostering unity and reconciliation between religious and secular, Mizrahi and Ashkenazi, Left and Right, Diaspora Jewry and Israel, and even between nations.
Rabbi Reuven, founder of the Ahavat Shalom institutions, is recognized as a spiritual guide to a wide range of audiences – business leaders, government ministers, and Knesset members, as well as public figures such as singers Eyal Golan and Ofer Levi, and soccer players, such as Omer Atzili, Neta Lavi, and Rami Gershon.
Entering his office, I found Rabbi Reuven seated behind his desk with a broad smile.
“For me, every Jew is a celebrity,” he replied when asked why so many public figures seek him out. “I welcome every person as they are. People usually come to me in times of distress: to pray for healing, for marital harmony, to mediate business disputes, to advise government ministers – and, in the same way, even to broker peace between criminal factions to prevent bloodshed.”
He added, “This is my life’s mission – to prevent strife among the Jewish people and serve as a bridge for unity and peace.”
Rabbi Reuven is married, the father of 12, and grandfather of nine. He is a certified adviser and mediator, as well as an ordained rabbi recognized by the State of Israel. For three decades, he has worked on the social front for tens of thousands of needy families, while initiating dozens of community projects aimed at bringing Israeli society closer together.
As part of his path of spreading unity and peace, Rabbi Reuven appears in a variety of media outlets – both religious and secular – such as channels 12, 14, and 24.
Every day, he also presents a short radio segment on the laws of guarding one’s speech (shemirat halashon) on Kol Barama.
Every Wednesday evening, he delivers a Torah lecture to the public, drawing hundreds from diverse backgrounds, which is also broadcast on social media. After the lecture, he receives people personally into the late hours of the night.
“People come from all over the country – Sephardim, Ashkenazim, secular, religious, ultra-Orthodox, Left and Right,” said Rabbi Reuven. “We don’t divide people by labels. We create connection. Real bonds. It’s fine to have disagreements, but there must not be divisiveness. That’s the central message in our classes: Disagreements – yes; divisiveness – no.
“Guarding your tongue is important, but that’s not enough – we are also obligated to be positive and generous toward others.”
Past, path, and vision
In our conversation, Rabbi Reuven shared his life story, outlook, and plans to establish a spiritual center that will unite Jews worldwide and commemorate the fallen of the Gaza war.
He was born into a traditional Mizrahi family in Jaffa. The turning point in his life came at age 16: “A friend who became religious invited me to a Friday night meal, and for the first time I felt the delight of Shabbat. It was true spiritual elevation,” he recounted.
He was studying engineering in the IDF’s academic program but chose a different path. “I told myself: ‘There are already enough engineers in the world.’ I felt I had to study Torah.”
His father – his closest companion, who passed away six years ago – initially opposed him. “He told me, ‘You can’t become a rabbi now; it’s too late.’ I started crying and said, ‘Abba, I promise you: I will become a rabbi.’ I hope he is happy and proud of me in heaven.”
At 19, Reuven left his engineering studies and began his public path, quickly becoming a rising star. With his rabbi’s encouragement, he started giving Torah lectures that drew ever-larger audiences. For the past 30 years, he has dedicated himself to combating slanderous speech (lashon hara) and building positive dialogue in society.
According to Rabbi Reuven, “The Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred, and it will only be rebuilt through peace and unity!”
Haredim in the IDF
On the issue of ultra-Orthodox enlistment, Rabbi Reuven revealed a surprising stance: His 20-year-old son, a brilliant yeshiva student, left his studies after Oct. 7 and enlisted in the Givati Brigade as an operations officer entering Gaza.
“He did things you don’t want to know about. I couldn’t sleep at night, and I lost weight. I had already prepared eulogies. I cried at night, and I felt the pain of the soldiers and the hostages,” he recalled.
He said, “Torah study is the supreme value, but one who cannot dedicate himself to Torah and instead can contribute to the Jewish people must enlist. That was also the opinion of [former Sephardi chief rabbi] Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and [former Lithuanian Orthodox leader] Rabbi [Elazar] Shach. We must respect Torah learners – without Torah, there is no world – but not create conflict but rather find the right balance between the two paths.”
He added: “The IDF must adapt its infrastructure for religious life so that God-fearing soldiers can preserve their way of life.”
On making aliyah
Surprisingly, Rabbi Reuven does not support aliyah “at any cost.” “It is a major life move, and one must prepare emotionally and personally in full.” At times, he explained, Jewish presence in the Diaspora serves a mission as a “light unto the nations.” Still, he expressed concern over the sharp rise in global antisemitism.
“We are promoting a program that will enable entire communities to make aliyah collectively, with full emotional and material support. We are building ties with Diaspora communities so that every Jew feels they have a stake in the Land of Israel, even if they still live abroad.”
He advises that prospective immigrants consult a personal rabbi before making aliyah. “Many rush without preparation. One must ask a rabbi who knows you personally – whether, when, and where to move.”
The Ahavat Shalom Center
Across from Rabbi Reuven’s office lies a large fenced plot of 1.7 dunams, designated for the spiritual center The Ahavat Shalom Center. Its purpose: “To spread the light of peace, love, and unity throughout the world.” So far, NIS 1.8 million has been invested in planning and permits. Construction is set to begin soon and will be completed within two years.
“It will be a place unlike any other in the world,” the rabbi declared. “There are many mitzvot and important things in the world, but the most essential is peace and unity. It is no coincidence that the Mishna concludes: ‘Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta said: ‘The Holy One, blessed be He, found no vessel that holds blessing for Israel except peace.’ This is an existential need!”
With the outbreak of the Gaza War, it was decided that the center would also memorialize all the fallen, especially lone soldiers who immigrated to Israel and sacrificed their lives.
“The center will host memorials and prayers for the elevation of their souls,” he said. “Their families must know that their heroism is engraved in the heart of the nation and will be remembered forever. Throughout the war, and even now, we continue round-the-clock prayers and Torah study – especially at night – for the protection of IDF soldiers, security forces, and the return of all our hostages.”
The three-story, 3,500-sq.m. complex will include a unique memorial hall, ritual baths for men and women (mikvaot), a synagogue, a study hall for married scholars, classrooms, counseling rooms, and mediation spaces. It will also feature a museum dedicated to Diaspora Jewry. Construction costs are estimated at NIS 30 million.
“Funding will come from Jews around the world who understand the importance of peace and unity. This will be a home for every Jew, a place where each will feel a partner, a place working to bring redemption through unity,” said the rabbi.
Rabbi Reuven emphasized: “The spiritual center will provide mediation and counseling, and spiritual support for every person. From here, entire teams and special projects will operate to spread unity and peace – to bridge, to reconcile, to prevent conflict within Am Yisrael. This is our mission!”
The vision of the Ahavat Shalom institutions is to bring Jews together through classes, encounters, and projects – for men, women, youth, and soldiers.
“One of our most important projects is reconciliation,” concluded Rabbi Reuven. “Especially before the High Holy Days, I call on people to make peace and resolve disputes. Brothers, parents, and children who hadn’t spoken for seven, 15, or even 25 years – reconciled here.”
When I asked how this is done, the rabbi answered in a quiet, confident voice:
“The secret is simple: to see the good in a person and tell them so. When they hear that you see in them – despite the anger – the positive points, their heart opens. The black in the eye is small; the white around it is immense.
Everyone must take it upon themselves to guard their tongue and speak kindly. With words of encouragement, each person can bring about repair and spread light to the world.
“This is the mission of the Ahavat Shalom institutions – to build a spiritual center where every Jew feels they belong, where conflicts are resolved, where peace is pursued – and from which blessing and redemption will flow. We need partners. Our strength is in our unity. When we are united, no one can overcome us!”
This article was written in cooperation with the Ahavat Shalom Center.