Temple Chai honors director of Congregation Learning
Temple Chai of Long Grove honored its Director of Congregational Learning Laura Siegel Perpinyal, who has designed and guided the congregation's student and adult education programs for more than 10 years.
"We are thrilled to celebrate Laura and her years of service at Temple Chai," said Rabbi Ilana G. Baden. "Laura brings so much energy, heart, and integrity to our educational and programmatic offerings. She is a true blessing and a gift to our community."
Under Perpinyal's guidance, Temple Chai's Religious and Hebrew schools were awarded accreditation by the Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) in 2018.
"In awarding accreditation, the ARJE recognized that our Religious and Hebrew schools consistently fostered excellent educational opportunities for our students and their families," said Perpinyal.
In addition, Perpinyal has served as the ChARJE (Chicago Area Reform Jewish Educators) president, as well as the national ARJE board, spends part of her summers at OSRUI as faculty, and is involved in many of the local and national Jewish education organizations.
Most recently, Perpinyal was recently honored by being selected as a member in the Mandel Institute's prestigious Educational Leadership Program. The program selects Jewish educational leaders in North America from a range of educational settings including synagogues, day schools and Jewish nonprofit organizations. The members of the cohort will learn together and generate new visions of Jewish education.
"As a participant in the Mandel Educational Leadership Program, I have the opportunity to study with Jewish educators from around the country. Through being part of this diverse group, I will continue to grow as an educator at Temple Chai," said Perpinyal.
Perpinyal's main responsibility is directing Temple Chai's student learners, who attend Religious School (pre-K through grade 12) and Hebrew School (grades three-seven). Under her leadership, Temple Chai supports all learners, and is proud to have an Inclusion Specialist that supports student learning in and outside of the classroom.
"Our Religious and Hebrew school faculty treats each student as an individual. Our students are encouraged to ask questions and explore all aspects of Jewish living. I believe that asking questions are the way we learn," she said.
"I am proud of our excellent faculty in our Religious and Hebrew schools," said Perpinyal. "They have worked diligently throughout the pandemic to create and implement meaningful learning opportunities for our students and to help our families feel close, even when we may be physically far apart. The vision for our learners at Temple Chai is learning, living, and leading, and we have kept this vision alive regardless of the pandemic.
"I often share with my students that we are all lifelong learners," Perpinyal said. "I believe in the power of shared experience and in the deep significance of Jewish community. I love working with our Temple Chai families and creating and implementing programs such as our Family Education Days. It is a joy to see families explore Jewish learning together."
Perpinyal earned her master's degree in Jewish education and Jewish nonprofit management from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2009. After spending two years in South Africa with her husband, Avi, the couple moved back to Perpinyal's hometown of Chicago in the fall of 2011, where she began working at Temple Chai.
Since then, their family has grown and both their children are now students in the Religious School.
"As an avid lifelong learner, I am also inspired to create Jewish learning opportunities for Temple Chai's members, regardless of their ages," said Perpinyal. "I enjoy participating in Temple Chai's ongoing and vibrant adult education programs.
"Meeting the ever-changing challenges of the modern world makes me proud to be part of our Temple Chai community. I am grateful that I have found a calling where I can nurture a love of Jewish learning in all those around me. Serving Temple Chai families for 10 years has filled my heart with joy."