Rabbi Brian Serle has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Sons of Abraham in La Crosse, Wisconsin and Congregation Beth El of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as well as a lay leader in several other communities. A native of New Jersey, Rabbi Serle has taught at various synagogues and day schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He has served as the principal of religious schools in New Mexico and Illinois. Rabbi Serle has taught college-level courses about Jewish history, Israel, and the Holocaust.

He loves to teach Torah to children and adults. Rabbi Serle’s spirituality is based on his love of leading others in joyful group prayer and song. As a rabbi, he strives to help others make informed Jewish choices, always respecting and nurturing the many ways of belonging to the Jewish people. Rabbi Serle’s leadership approach is rooted in being a good listener first. This allows him to work with our synagogue leadership, the professional staff, and the members of the congregation to create the best possible Jewish experience for all. His focus is always on building relationships and integrating the many constituents that populate our diverse communities. He is dedicated to discovering the congregation’s strengths, cultivating them, and making them bloom in the spirit of unity. Drawing from his personal and professional interests and experiences, he strives to create innovative, challenging, integrated, and fun activities to meet the needs of all congregants, ensuring everyone feels welcomed and included. Rabbi Serle has long been a leader of interfaith organizations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This work has included interfaith Bible study, Thanksgiving services, jail ministry and immigration issues. He enjoys working with other clergy and elected representatives to combat hate speech and prejudice. In addition to his rabbinic ordination with the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute, he has studied privately with cantors throughout the Midwest. He is a member of the International Federation of Rabbis.

Rabbi Serle enjoys singing and playing guitar, reading, photography, biking and hiking with his partner Renana Friedman. He loves to stay in touch with his five children and eight grandchildren, living here in Illinois and in Israel.