About

…wonder, wisdom and whimsy from Rabbi Dr. Laura Novak Winer, RJE

Rabbi Dr. Laura Novak Winer has a rabbinate that focuses on Jewish education, mentoring, teaching and helping youth and families develop deep and meaningful connections to progressive Judaism. Laura is the Director of Clinical Education for the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, CA where she mentors students, coordinates fieldwork internships and teaches graduate level courses in pedagogy and organizational change to students studying to become Jewish educational leaders and rabbis.

Laura moved to Fresno, CA in 2011 when her husband, Rabbi Rick Winer because the rabbi at Temple Beth Israel.  Since moving to the Central Valley, Laura has become an active member of Faith in the Valley, which organizes the faith community (over 120 congregations – 100,000 people – from Kern, Merced, Fresno, Stanislaus & San Joaquin counties) to create a different and better future in the Valley for its families and communities.

Laura has been published in a variety of academic and online journals and was the editor of several curricula, including Sacred Choices: Adolescent Relationships and Sexual Ethics (2005 and 2007). Laura is a regular contributor to Moment Magazine’s Ask the Rabbis column (and here). Laura is a past president of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators, a national organization which advocates for Jewish educators and Jewish education.

Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master of Arts in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education and rabbinic ordination at HUC-JIR, and a doctorate in Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary Davidson School of Graduate Education.

Laura and Rick have two adult sons who have successfully launched themselves out of the nest and live their authentic selves.