A Conversation With Dr. Aaron Winkler, MD

Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of the Book of Jonah through ancient rabbinical writings and a modern lens on ADHD. This interactive discussion will uncover surprising insights into attention, purpose, and the human mind—then and now.

* Free parking available through the entrance on Fabian Way

**Questions? Email Michelle Shabtai: mshabtai@paloaltojcc.org

ABOUT THE EVENT

Take a deep dive into the belly of the mind—and the timeless story of Jonah—as we explore how ancient rabbinical texts can shed light on modern understandings of ADHD. Through engaging group discussion and rich textual exploration, we’ll uncover surprising connections between Jonah’s journey and the lived experience of attention, distraction, purpose, and calling. Come ready for insight, conversation, and new ways of thinking about what ADHD is—and what can be done about it.

Dr. Aaron Winkler, MD—founder and former Director of the Stanford Adult ADHD Clinic—made an unexpected discovery while reading Torah stories to his children. Hidden within the ancient narrative of Jonah, he found what he describes as the most vivid first-person account of the lived experience of ADHD he has ever encountered. Not in the surface-level storyline familiar to children, but in the nuanced, precise, and often hidden language through which the Torah reveals its deepest truths.

As Dr. Winkler followed this thread through centuries of rabbinical commentary, he uncovered a rich tapestry of insight—not only into ADHD, but into the emotional landscape of childhood trauma and its lasting impact on mental health.

In this one-hour talk, followed by open discussion, Dr. Winkler will guide us through a powerful and original interpretation of Jonah—framed as a dialogue between our modern struggles and the wisdom of sages spanning two millennia.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Winkler, a board-certified psychiatrist and dynamically-trained psychotherapist, founded and directed the Adult ADHD Clinic at Stanford University before moving to full-time private practice in Palo Alto. He writes and publishes peer-reviewed and award winning work in psychiatry and neuroscience, and regularly presents new work at major academic conferences. He is a member of the “APSARD National Guidelines Taskforce” currently working to create guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults in the United States. When he is not seeing patients or working to improve care for adults with ADHD, Dr. Winkler enjoys playing music and is a proud father of three. 

More about Dr. Winkler can be found on his practice website: www.aaronwinklermd.com

Dr. Aaron Winkler, MD