The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States was founded by Rabbi Mendy Chitrik in September 2019. Having spent over twenty years in Turkey, he recognized a chance to assist Jews residing in predominantly Muslim countries, where obtaining aid from organizations based in the United States or Israel could occasionally present challenges. He is the head Rabbi of Istanbul's
Ashkenazi Jewish community, and serves as the alliance's chairman. It is the first rabbinic association in the Muslim world. The establishment of the alliance aims to foster connections and provide support for
Ashkenazi,
Sephardi,
Chabad, and communal rabbis who serve Jewish communities in predominantly Muslim nations. As of March 2021, ARIS had formed a network of rabbis spanning 14 mostly Muslim-majority member countries ARIS' first summit was held in
Istanbul on December 22, 2021. The organization was received by Turkish president
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the
Presidential Complex the next day. In the meeting, Erdoğan told ARIS that “the ties with Israel are vital for regional stability.” ARIS' activity is approved by
Chief Rabbi of
Israel Grand Rabbi
Yitzchak Yosef and follows his
Halachic directives.
Presidium council The Presidium Council of the union consists of: • Rabbi
Shimon Elituv, representing the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel • Rabbi Gad Bouskila, rabbi of the Moroccan Congregation Netivot Yisrael in
Brooklyn, New York • Rabbi Rafael David Banon, Beth Din of
Montreal and leader of its Moroccan community • Rabbi
Haim Bitan, chief rabbi of
Tunisia • Rabbi
Ishak Haleva, (former) Chief Rabbi of
Turkey (late as of 14 January 2025) • Rabbi
Avraham Hamra, the last chief rabbi of
Syria was a member of the Presidium Council until his death in 2021.
Executive board • Rabbi Levi Bannon, Chabad rabbi in Morocco • Rabbi
Levi Duchman, UAE-based rabbi • Rabbi Shneor Segal, Chief Rabbi of Azerbaijan • Rabbi Yisrael Uzan, Chief Rabbi of Nigeria ==Activities==