About Ariel
Ariel serves as a leader in education, industry and immigrant absorption. The city’s diversity has become a vehicle for integration between Israelis from different walks of life—new immigrants and native Israelis, secular and observant, seniors and singles. Today, when Israeli society faces the challenges of demographic segmentation and segregation, the City of Ariel emerges with a powerful yet simple message: let’s work together.
As the capital of Samaria, Ariel’s location and unsurpassed achievements captures the world’s attention. The city’s population, its strategic significance to Israel’s security and survival, and its contribution to Israel’s economic growth all contribute to Ariel’s consensus status as an integral part of the State of Israel.
Ariel’s biblical roots and spiritual foundations are the source of inspiration. Abraham began his divinely inspired journey to the Land of Israel in the Samarian hills, where he set up his famous tent of hospitality. Joshua, who led the Jews into the Land of Israel following the exodus from Egypt, inherited this land, also known as the hills of Ephraim. He and his pioneering ally Caleb are buried opposite the foot of modern day Ariel.
The modern City of Ariel drew its name from one of the names of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. As with its sister city, Jerusalem, the ancient and modern historic continuum is plain to see. The City of Ariel is built alongside the ruins of an ancient Israelite city that dates back more than 3,000 years.
Mayor Ron Nachman (1942-2013), the founding and pioneering Mayor of the City of Ariel, succeeded in establishing and developing the city against challenging odds. He was first called upon by the government of Israel in 1974 to mobilize a group of families who would come to a barren hilltop in the heart of Samaria. Nachman went from house to house, parlor meeting to parlor meeting, to find Israel’s true pioneers. Right after his death in January 2013, he received Israel’s highest honor, the Israel Prize, for his achievement in building one of Israel’s model cities.
Under the leadership of Mayor Eliyahu Shaviro, Ariel continues to move Ariel forever towards a peaceful, stronger, and more joyful future for Ariel, the people of Israel, and the entire region.
About Friends of Ariel
Since 1991, American Friends of Ariel (AFA) has become a leading force for the City of Ariel.
AFA’s mission is threefold:
To develop resources for, renew, and maintain humanitarian projects in Ariel in the fields of education, social welfare, immigrant absorption, culture, health and religion;
To educate and provide information about the City of Ariel to visitors, foreign press, and the general public;
To establish relationships and partnerships with a domestic and international cadre of supporters– and to work together for a brighter, better future in Ariel.
AFA activities have enabled the City of Ariel to provide its residents with vital programs, services, and facilities for a better quality of life. The projects include Ariel University, the Ariel Regional Center for Performing Arts, the Ariel National Center for Leadership Development, the Field Center for Entrepreneurship, a young adult center, a community center and municipal library, a sports and recreation complex, a variety of programs for at-risk youth, senior services, and emergency rescue and medical services, among others.
In addition, AFA has funded parks and playgrounds in Ariel, medical equipment for the city’s clinics, preschool equipment, student scholarships, Torah scrolls and furnishings for Ariel synagogues, assistance for needy families, and much more.
Message from the Mayor
It is a great honor, privilege and sacred task to lead one of Israel’s greatest success stories: the City of Ariel.
Ariel has been my home for close to 30 years, and that’s what it is for our 20,000 residents: home. While Ariel is a city, it is also a community, one that strives towards excellence in education, ethical values, and national leadership. We take pride in our national achievements, but also in our continual efforts to improve the day-to-day lives of the people of the city.
We welcome you to visit Ariel and be a part of its growing success.
Yours truly,
Eliyahu Shaviro
Mayor of Ariel
Mayor Eli Shaviro planted roots in Ariel in 1987. He has held senior positions in the IDF, leading him to head the Security Department of the Ariel Municipality from 2003-2007. Following this post, he served as the CEO of the local council of the nearby township of Oranit. He holds an MA in Business from Ben Gurion University and a BA in Political Science from Tel Aviv University. Upon Mayor Ron Nachman’s passing in January 2013, he was selected to serve as acting Mayor. In October 2013, he was officially elected as Mayor in a landslide victory.
