- Name and Title: Laura Siegel Perpinyal, RJE Director of Congregational Learning
- What I Do: I help to create meaningful and engaging Jewish Learning Experiences for everyone 0-100 years old!
- Why I Do It: I love helping others find the wonderful gifts Judaism can bring to our lives, from creating new family traditions, to celebrating ancient rituals. Judaism gives us a moral compass from which to make decisions and navigate the world around us and I find great joy in helping others discover what Judaism has to offer them and help them explore Jewish life!
- How I got here: My husband and I met in Jerusalem and after we both finished graduate school in 2009, I moved to South Africa. While there, I worked for the Jewish National Fund focusing on community education and development. I also volunteered with Limmud, a Jewish learning conference and chaired the Johannesburg conference in 2011. We moved back to my hometown of Chicago shortly after our wedding in order to come to this incredible community at Temple Chai!
- Favorite Holiday: I love celebrating Tu Bishvat, the birthday of the trees! It’s an under the radar holiday – but has great food and traditions!
- Hidden Talent: I used to teach spin classes in graduate school – motivational yelling at its best!
- Education: Double Masters in Jewish Education and Jewish Non-profit Management from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2009. BA in Jewish Studies and Political Science from Indiana University in 2005.
Email: LPerpinyal@templechai.org
Phone: 847-537-1771 x 228