Rabbi Miriam Wajnberg

Rabbi Miriam Farber Wajnberg (Vine-berg) is a rabbi, educator, and ritual creator. She loves people and opening doorways into Jewish life. She meets congregants of all ages “where they’re at” and is honored to accompany congregants on their Jewish and spiritual life journeys. Rabbi Miriam loves studying Torah regularly with her chevruta (learning partner), exploring Jewish foodways, reading Israeli poetry, and examining Torah and Jewish text through a contemporary feminist lens. In addition to her work at Temple Shalom, Rabbi Miriam serves as the Director of Professional Development for 18Doors, an organization working for the full inclusion and engagement of interfaith couples and families in Jewish life.

Rabbi Miriam grew up in New York and attended Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles where she was ordained and earned her Masters of Jewish Education.

She is an alumna of the prestigious Wexner Graduate Fellowship and has served as rabbi, educator, rabbinic intern, hospital chaplain, community organizer, and teacher in Jewish communities in New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Washington State, Montana, and Singapore.

Prior to moving to Ontario with her family, Rabbi Miriam served as rabbi at United Hebrew Congregation in Singapore, the largest Progressive Jewish congregation in Asia outside of Israel. As a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Association of Reform Jewish Educators, and the Women’s Rabbinic Network, Rabbi Miriam is committed to building an inclusive and relevant Jewish community that is rooted in tradition and Jewish values, and using creative Jewish ritual to imbue lifecycle events and holidays with meaning. She believes that Judaism should inspire lives filled with meaning that respond to the surrounding world and that every one of us can be partners in repairing the world.

Locally and regionally, Rabbi Miriam is a member of the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto and the Toronto Board of Rabbis. She volunteers on the Board of Directors of Hamilton Jewish Family Services.

Off the bima, Rabbi Miriam loves getting to know congregants over coffee and teaching the young and the young-at-heart. She believes both soul and body need sustenance and loves exploring mixology, baking (especially challah!), and cooking. Rabbi Miriam enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, and spending time with her husband, Rabbi Beni Wajnberg, their two sons, Shai Lev and Rafi Mendel, and her dog, Tucker.