Harel

Harel is a masculine Hebrew given name meaning "altar, mountain of God" in Hebrew. The word is derived from the Hebrew elements har (mountain) and El (God). In the Hebrew Bible, it appears in Ezekiel 43:15, where it refers to the altar in the temple in Jerusalem: "The altar hearth [Harel] shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project from the hearth."

The name is also associated with a related root, Har-El, which similarly combines "mountain" and "God.">

Notable Bearers

Several Israeli public figures bear Harel as a surname. Notable among them are Isser Harel (1912–2003), chief of the Mossad intelligence agency; David Harel (b. 1950), a professor of computer sciences; Dan Harel (b. 1955) and Yitzhak Harel (b. 1957), both generals in the Israeli Defense Force; Alon Harel (b. 1957), a law professor; and Idit Harel Caperton (b. 1957), a psychologist and epistemologist. Harel appears in Canada through politician Louise Harel (b. 1946) and in France with filmmaker Philippe Harel (b. 1956). Earlier generations include Dutch resistance member Rachel Harel (1923–1989) and Israeli captain Yossi Harel (1918–2008).

Cultural Significance

As a given name, Harel is borne by Israeli tennis player Harel Levy (b. 1978), singer Harel Moyal (b. 1981), and civil servant Harel Locker (b. 1965). The name's religious connotations, rooted in the imagery of God's mountain and the temple altar, give it enduring spiritual resonance in Jewish culture.

• Meaning: "altar, mountain of God"
• Origin: Hebrew
• Type: Given name and surname
• Usage: primarily Israel