Ariel is a Ph.D. student in Comparative Theology whose research focuses on the medieval history of Christianity and Judaism, interreligious encounters, and theological polemics. His master’s thesis examined the concept of “Original Sin” in the writings of the 13th-century Rabbi Hillel Ben Shmuel of Verona and its significance for medieval Jewish-Christian discourse. Ariel is particularly interested in Jewish-Christian dialogue through the lens of informal interreligious encounters that shape group identities, perceptions, and religious boundaries.

He earned his B.A. in Jewish Philosophy and Political Science from Bar-Ilan University and his M.A. in Jewish Thought from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he studied in the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School’s Honors Program for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University and has extensive experience in Israeli public policy and civil service.

Beyond his fascination with medieval manuscripts and historical religious disputations, Ariel is interested in the ways intergroup encounters continue to shape the modern world. Together with his wife, he was among the founding families of Eliav, a mixed secular-religious community in southern Israel.
Ariel enjoys spending time in nature, reading and writing poetry, and embarking on adventures with his wife and their four daughters.