A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rabbi Laura Schwartz Harari has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College. She completed her rabbinical studies on the Los Angeles campus of The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she received her Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 2006 and rabbinic ordination in 2008.
Prior to her study for the rabbinate, Rabbi Harari had a distinguished career in Jewish Education for over twenty-five years.
Most recently, Rabbi Harari was Spiritual Leader of Temple Rodef Sholom in Waco, Texas. While in Waco, Rabbi Harari served as President of the Greater Waco Interfaith Conference, and on the Board of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis. She was also a member of the Ethics Committee of Providence Hospital and a regular instructor for Baylor University's Lifelong Learning Program.
Prior to that she was Rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Jackson, Tennessee.
Rabbi Harari currently resides in Laguna Woods, California, and serves on the Board of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis.
Rabbi Harari is very proud of her daughter, Carmit, also a rabbi, who serves Congregation Shir Tikvah in suburban Chicago.
Rabbi Harari’s primary passion is helping others find meaning in being Jewish. She feels that the rabbinate is an excellent avenue for this. Her other passions include folk singing, guitar playing and Israeli folk dance.