Jacob Ben-Arie
Jacob Ben-Arie is a former Israeli paralympic champion.
Ben-Arie was born in Kibbutz Na'an, grandson of Yerachmiel Tzimbal. Shortly after he was born the family moved to live in Kibbutz Gesher, where he was affected by polio in 1952. In 1960 the family moved Givatayim, where he began in 1962 to practice sports at the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled.
Between 1968–1976, Ben-Arie completed a degree in Biology at Tel Aviv University and studied for MA in Psychology and Biomechanics at New York University. Alongside his studies he continued to practice in swimming, wheelchair basketball and athletics. Throughout the years he took part in several Stoke Mandeville Games and Paralympic Games.
Beginning in 1978, Ben-Arie worked at "Telrad" telecommunications company. Promoted to the rank of deputy CEO, he retired in 1998. Appointed in 2002 as director of the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled, he held the position until 2011.
